EDUCATION AND SKILLS

"Building Schools for the Future"

Doug Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what brief the architects commissioned to produce designs for 21st century schools, as part of the Building Schools for the Future programme, were given with regard to sports and physical activity.

David Miliband: The exemplar designs allowed for a variety of sites and school sizes for 4 to 11 primary schools, 11 to 18 secondary schools and 4 to 18 all-through school.
	The design briefs for the exemplar designs included:
	minimum indoor sports provision of a one-court sports hall and a small activity studio for primary pupils;
	minimum indoor sports provision of a four-court sports hall, a main hall and an activity studio for secondary pupils;
	minimum outdoor facilities (even in the most constrained sites) of a hard surfaced multi-use games area, as well as pitches for summer and winter games and an all weather pitch where the site demanded it.
	Sports halls and multi-use games area were required to conform to the minimum dimensions and specifications required by Sports England for community use. All this provision and its ancillary accommodation was to be located appropriately to be available to the community outside the school day.

"Building Schools for the Future"

Doug Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what consultations have been made with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport regarding the Building Schools for the Future programme to ensure that schools have the capacity to increase sporting activity.

David Miliband: There have been a number of positive discussions both at official and ministerial level, about how we can ensure synergy of our capital resources in order to maximise them and to deliver the national strategy to improve schools' PE and Sports facilities. Our aim is that following BSF investment all secondary schools will have sports facilities suitable for wider community use.

"Building Schools for the Future"

Doug Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what share of the £5.1 billion capital investment for Building Schools for the Future is allocated for sports and physical activity resources.

David Miliband: This Government gives great priority to the physical and recreational needs of our children as well as their academic needs.
	Central Government capital funding for school buildings in 2005–06 is over £5.1 billion, including over £2 billion allocated to the first wave of Building Schools for the Future (BSF). BSF aims to transform secondary schools so that they are fit for the teaching and learning needs of the 21st century, including for sports and physical activity. Decisions on investment will be made locally by the authorities which have been allocated funding as they develop their projects, in line with their priorities which will reflect local need and government policies. In time, all secondary schools in England will benefit from BSF.
	The balance of capital funding, of about £3 billion in 2005–06, is mainly allocated to schools and authorities by formula, so that they can make investment decisions locally, in line with the priorities of their asset management plan.

"Building Schools for the Future"

James Purnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, which schools which have benefited from the Building Schools for the Future programme open up their sports facilities to the wider community out-of-hours.

David Miliband: The Building Schools for the Future programme aims to transform secondary provision over a 10–15 year period starting in 2005–06, subject to future spending decisions. Therefore no schools have yet benefited from the programme. Local authorities to be included in the first wave of projects were announced on 12 February. Over the coming months they will be developing their plans in association with their schools and other local partners. Our aim is that following BSF investment all secondary schools will have sports facilities suitable for wider community use.

Departmental Communications

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the total expenditure on communications for the Department has been in 2003–04, broken down by expenditure on (a) Government Information and Communication Service staff and (b) other staff, broken down by (i) press officers, (ii) special advisers and (iii) others.

Charles Clarke: The DFES estimates that Strategy and Communications Directorate will, in 2003–04, expend around £4.9 million of its administrative budget on communications staff. £2 million of that will be on Government Information and Communication Service (GICs) staff. Press officers will make up approximately £0.7 million of the GICS cost. There are no press officer costs outside of this.
	Additionally, policy directorates plan to spend £3.5 million on their communications staff in 2003–04. It would be of disproportionate cost to identify any further GICs costs within this.
	The Special Advisers' Code of Conduct sets out the sort of work a special adviser may undertake on behalf of their Minister. This includes communications activity. Details of the costs of special advisers are given on an annual basis. Information for the financial year 2003–04 will be published in due course.

Departmental Communications

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many staff are employed in the Department to work in the communications field, broken down by (a) Government Information and Communication Service staff and (b) other staff, broken down by (i) press officers, (ii) special advisers and (iii) others.

Charles Clarke: The DFES Strategy and Communications Directorate (SCD) currently employ 159 staff on communication activities, 54 are members of the Government Information and Communication service (GICs), of whom 23 are press officers. There are no non-GICs press officers. In addition, policy directorates employ a further 121 'other' staff on communications activities.
	There are two special advisers' to the Secretary of State. The Special Advisers' Code of Conduct sets out the sort of work a special adviser may undertake on behalf of their Minister. This includes communications activity. Details of the costs of special advisers are given on an annual basis. Information for the financial year 2003–04 will be published in due course.

Departmental Relocation

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many staff in his Department work in (a) the West Midlands and (b) North Staffordshire.

Charles Clarke: There are 56 members of staff in my Department who work in the West Midlands. There are no members of my staff employed in North Staffordshire.

Recruitment Advertising

David Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate he has made of how much (a) schools, (b) colleges and (c) universities spent on recruitment advertising in each year since 1997.

David Miliband: My right hon. Friend has made no such estimates.

School Exclusions (Cannabis)

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what recent estimate he has made of whether the number of (a) permanent and (b) fixed term pupil exclusions related to possession or use of cannabis has been affected by the reclassification of cannabis.

Ivan Lewis: My Department started to collect data on the reasons for exclusions, including drug-related incidents, from summer term 2003. The first term's data are not yet available.

School Sports Facilities

Doug Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what his Department sets as (a) the ideal and (b) the minimum sports facilities for a secondary school.

David Miliband: Advice on the requirements for accommodation in secondary schools, including sports provision, will be available on the web from 1 April 2004 in Building Bulletin 98: Briefing Framework for Secondary School Projects. This will supersede the current Area Guidelines for Schools and enhance the current area recommendations.
	The guidance sets out minimum recommended provision and also allows sufficient overall area to allow for further facilities, both indoor and outdoor, appropriate to the priorities of individual schools. Hence:
	(a) the ideal provision will depend on the priorities of the school and its extended role in providing facilities for the wider community. For instance, while all schools would be able to offer community use outside school hours, sports colleges and other schools could provide facilities more appropriate to the regional demands of specific sports.
	(b) the minimum provision recommended for new secondary schools, in line with current guidance, is a minimum indoor sports provision of a four-court sports hall, to Sport England minimum specifications and other large spaces (including the main hall and activity studios) that would be used for Physical Education and should be appropriate and sufficient to ensure that examinations and assemblies need not take place in the sports hall. Minimum recommended outdoor facilities include pitches for summer and winter games and a hard surfaced multi-use games area, again to Sport England minimum specifications.

School Year

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether he was consulted prior to the Government's announcement of support for proposals to change the school year; what assessment he has made of the overall impact on the economy of these proposals; and what assessment he has made of the impact on specific sectors of the economy, with particular reference to (a) tourism and (b) transport.

David Miliband: Proposals for a standard six-term school year have been developed by an independent commission on the school year which was established by the Local Government Association. The Commission included representation from the tourism industry. My right hon. Friend sees merit in the argument in favour of standardising the length of school terms. Decisions on school term dates and holidays however continue to be the responsibility of individual local education authorities or school governing bodies, depending on the category of school.

Specialist Schools

David Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many (a) specialist schools and (b) non-specialist schools are designated under section 100 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998; and how many and what percentage of pupils they have selected in each of the last six years.

David Miliband: Schools' admission arrangements are determined locally without central consultation or approval. The DfES therefore cannot provide figures on the number of schools which fall into this category (i.e. whose selective admission arrangements pre-dated the 1998 Act).
	The evidence suggests that just under 6 per cent. of the 685 schools that had specialist status in September 2001 used aptitude as part of their admission arrangements. The following table shows the latest collated information relating to partial selection by specialist schools. Most of these schools were selecting by aptitude prior to the 1998 Act, with some selecting more than 10 per cent. of their pupils. The next time specialist schools will be asked to provide aptitude selection data will be this autumn.
	The admissions framework for specialist schools is the same as for all other maintained schools. Applicants must be considered against the school's published admission arrangements, including, where applicable, selection.
	
		Specialist schools selecting by aptitude as at September 2001
		
			 Specialism School LEA Start Percentage(1) 
		
		
			 Technology Archbishop Blanch School Liverpool 1996 5.6 
			 Technology Archbishop Temple School Lancashire 1995 10.0 
			 Language Bohunt School Hampshire 1996 10.0 
			 Arts Brentwood Ursuline Convent School Essex 1999 10.0 
			 Technology Budmouth Technology College Dorset 1995 10.0 
			 Technology Central School (The) Lincolnshire 2001 10.0 
			 Technology Chaucer Technology School Kent 1996 67.0 
			 Arts Chestnut Grove School Wandsworth 1997 16.0 
			 Technology Cornwallis School Kent 1994 10.0 
			 Technology Deacon's School Peterborough, city 1994 15.0 
			 Technology Denbigh School Milton Keynes 1997 10.0 
			 Arts Eastwood School (The) Southend on Sea 2001 10.0 
			 Technology George Spencer GM School Nottinghamshire 1994 10.0 
			 Technology Glyn Technology School Surrey 1994 15.0 
			 Technology Heathside School Surrey 1995 4.0 
			 Language Hendon School Barnet, LB of 1995 10.0 
			 Language Hockerill Anglo European School Hertfordshire 1998 10.0 
			 Arts Intake High School Leeds 1998 10.0 
			 Arts Latimer Community Arts College Northamptonshire 1997 10.0 
			 Technology Lodge Park School Northamptonshire 1994 10.0 
			 Technology Lynn Grove VA High School Norfolk 1994 15.0 
			 Technology Mill Hill County High School Barnet, LB of 1994 10.0 
			 Technology Monks' Dyke Technology College Lincolnshire 1995 10.0 
			 Technology Moseley Park School Wolverhampton 1995 10.0 
			 Technology Ninestiles School Birmingham 1997 10.0 
			 Arts North Kesteven School Lincolnshire 2000 10.0 
			 Sports Oakbank School Bradford 1997 10.0 
			 Sports Oldfield School Bath and NE Somerset 1997 10.0 
			 Technology Philip Morant School Essex 1994 10.0 
			 Technology Princes Risborough School Buckinghamshire 2001 3.2 
			 Language Robert Pattinson School Lincolnshire 2001 2.0 
			 Technology Sandwich Technology School Kent 1996 10.0 
			 Technology Small Heath School Birmingham 1994 10.0 
			 Technology St. Margaret's C of E High School Liverpool 1997 15.0 
			 Technology St. Martin's School Essex 1995 10.0 
			 Arts St. Marylebone School (The) Westminster 1998 10.0 
			 Sports Southfields Community College Wandsworth, LB of 2000 10.0 
			 Arts Stantonbury Campus North Milton Keynes 1998 5.0 
			 Sports Whitefield School Barnet, LB of 1999 10.0 
			 Sports Wye Valley School (The) Buckinghamshire 1998 10.0 
		
	
	(1) Of the 685 specialist schools operational as at September 2001, the above 40 (that is, just under 6 per cent.) selected a percentage of their pupils on aptitude/ability in the chosen specialist subject.
	Notes:
	The percentages refer to aptitude selection relating to the schools' specialist school designations, some schools may also select for aptitude in other specialisms.
	This information was taken from progress reports submitted by 685 specialist schools operational as at September 2001.

Working Group on 14 to 19 Reform

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the (a) budget and (b) estimated cost to date is of the Working Group on 14 to 19 reform.

David Miliband: The information requested is as follows:
	(a) Budget: £724,000 in 2003–04, including £224,000 for running costs;
	(b) Estimated cost to date: £518,000 as at 31 January, including £198,000 on running costs.

Working Group on 14 to 19 Reform

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills who has (a) been approached by and (b) responded to consultation by the Working Group on 14 to 19 Reform.

David Miliband: Following the publication of its Progress Report in July 2003, the Working Group on 14–19 Reform consulted a wide variety of organisations and individuals, including schools, colleges, higher education institutions, employers and their representative bodies. I understand that, following his appearance at a meeting of the Select Committee on Education and Skills on 3 March, Mike Tomlinson, Chair of the Working Group, will be sending the hon. Member and other Members of the Select Committee details of the 350 organisations and individuals who commented on the Progress Report. I will ensure that this information is also placed in the Library of the House of Commons.
	The Working Group is currently inviting comments on the recommendations in its Interim Report, which was published on 17 February. It will therefore be in dialogue with key stakeholders to ensure that the concerns of employers; higher education; young people and their parents are carefully considered. It is also holding a series of regional events to make sure those in the front line of education and training delivery have opportunities to comment. The aim is to ensure direct engagement of all these parties in the development of the recommendations of the final report of the Working Group, due in the autumn.

Working Group on 14 to 19 Reform

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate has been made of the cost of implementing the proposals of the Working Group on 14 to 19 Reform.

David Miliband: The Government welcomes the recent publication of the Interim Report of the Working Group on 14–19 Reform. The Working Group will be submitting its final report in the autumn. That final report will include recommendations for the timetable and the way in which proposals should be implemented; the costs and other resource and practical implications of reform; and the further policy and implementation work needed. The Government will decide on the way forward for the 14–19 phase of learning in the light of the recommendations in the final report, including the cost implications.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Foster Inquiry

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the planned date is for the completion of the Foster inquiry into the funding of British athletics; when its report will be published; how soon after the publication of the report the remainder of the legacy money will be allocated to athletics in the UK; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: The Foster inquiry is due to be completed around the middle of April, with the report to be published shortly afterwards. Legacy funds will be released as soon as is practicable based upon the report's recommendations.

Reading and Libraries

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what initiatives the Government have introduced to promote (a) reading and (b) library usage (i) in England and (ii) at a local level; at what cost; what promotional techniques and media were used; and if she will make a statement.

Estelle Morris: In February 2003, DCMS published Framework for the Future, the first-ever national public libraries strategy. "Framework" reflects a 10 year vision to improve public libraries, affirming that reading and learning are at the heart of libraries' modern mission. "Framework" identified many good practice examples in libraries and proposed a strategy to build on this excellence to improve services delivered by all libraries in England. DCMS and Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) are taking the strategy forward through a three-year action plan, which is on the MLA website: www.mla.gov.uk.
	Considerable work has been done in this area. Examples of some of the specific schemes to promote reading include: Bookstart, which DCMS has funded with £500,000, over the last two financial years, which provides reading books and a libraries card for babies; a Quality Index fiction tool, that is being developed in conjunction with the Audit Commission and Arts Council England to help authorities identify the quality of their stock and a joint DCMS/Wolfson Foundation Fund to which DCMS has contributed £4 million, over two years, for reader development projects. Arts Council England also support a number of reader development programmes through public libraries.
	Very nearly all of England's over 3,000 libraries have been connected to the internet through the £100 million lottery funded People's Network programme. The early indications are that the People's Network has increased the number and types of people that use our public libraries.

School Sports Grounds

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many school sports grounds have been sold in each London borough since 1997.

David Miliband: I have been asked to reply.
	There are no figures available until October 1998 when we introduced new legislation to stop the indiscriminate sell off of school playing fields. Before October 1998, there was nothing to prevent a local authority selling a school playing field if it wanted to. Local authorities and schools now must obtain the written consent of the Secretary of State before disposing, or changing the use, of school playing fields. Applications to sell school playing fields are approved only where it is clear that any proceeds will be used to improve school sports provision or education facilities.
	The following table shows the number of approved applications from London boroughs to sell areas of school playing field capable of forming at least a small sports pitch.
	
		
			 London boroughs 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 
		
		
			 Barking and Dagenham — — — — — — 
			 Barnet — — 1 — — — 
			 Bexley — — — — — — 
			 Brent — — — — — — 
			 Bromley — — — — — — 
			 Camden — — 1 — 1 — 
			 City of London — — — — — — 
			 Croydon — 1 — — — — 
			 Ealing — — 1 — — — 
			 Enfield — 1 — — — — 
			 Greenwich — — — — — — 
			 Hackney — — — — — — 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham — 1 — — 1 — 
			 Haringey — — — — — — 
			 Harrow — — — — — — 
			 Havering — — 1 — — — 
			 Hillingdon — — — — — — 
			 Hounslow — — — — — — 
			 Islington — — — — — — 
			 Kensington and Chelsea — — — — — — 
			 Kingston upon Thames — — — — — — 
			 Lambeth — — — — — — 
			 Lewisham — — — — — — 
			 Merton — — — — — — 
			 Newham — — — — — — 
			 Redbridge — — — — — — 
			 Richmond upon Thames — — — — — — 
			 Southwark — — — — — — 
			 Sutton — — — — — — 
			 Tower Hamlets — — — — — — 
			 Waltham Forest — — — — — — 
			 Wandsworth — — — — — — 
			 Westminster — — — — — — 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. A 'school sports pitch' is an area of playing field that has the shape and topography to form at least a sports pitch of 2,000m
	(2).
	2. The table includes playing fields that have been used as school sports pitches within the 10 years before the application was made.
	3. There were no figures collected before October 1998.
	4. The table reflects applications made by each authority. The playing field that was the subject of the application need not be in the same borough as that making the application.

Television Licences

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many television licences have been bought online in each year since the service became available.

Estelle Morris: Facilities for paying the television licence fee online have been available since December 1999. The BBC has provided the following information on the number of television licences paid for online in each calendar year since then:
	
		
			  Number of licences paid for online 
		
		
			 1999 (December only) 59 
			 2000 4,628 
			 2001 59,137 
			 2002 127,201 
			 2003 178,642

Workplace Exercise

Andy Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  what action her Department is taking to encourage employers to give their workers the opportunity to take exercise (a) at or close to the workplace and (b) in or around the work-day;
	(2)  what her Department's policy is on encouraging employers to allow employees longer lunch breaks to spend time engaged in active recreational activities.

Richard Caborn: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has an active Sports and Social Club that encourages staff to take part in a range of sporting, fitness and leisure activities: (a) cricket and softball teams practice and compete at various locations at or close to the workplace and staff can exercise at the on-site fitness facility; (b) a flexible working policy operates that allows staff the flexibility to take exercise at times to suit them, either during an extended lunch-break or at the start or end of the working day.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Common Agricultural Policy

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the benefit to small farms in Lancashire of the revised Common Agricultural Policy.

Alun Michael: The link between the subsidy paid to farmers and the level of production has been broken. This is known as "decoupling". This means that activities of farmers in the UK will no longer be dictated by subsidy regimes and frees them to farm for what the market wants.
	By removing incentives for intensification and over-production, and by linking compliance to a range of environmental standards, decoupling will help to reduce damaging environmental impacts.
	My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, outlined in her statement to the House, on 12 February, that in England we have now set out a fair basis for calculating the single payment that will be sustainable in the longer term.

Common Agricultural Policy

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much money from the Common Agricultural Policy has gone into the North-West Region in each of the last five years.

Alun Michael: The figures in the following table represent the amount of money that has gone into the North-West Region from the Common Agricultural Policy in each of the last five years.
	These are based on the European Agriculture Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) year which runs from 16 October to 15 October.
	
		
			 EAGGF year Amount 
		
		
			 1999(3) 114,947,199.98 
			 2000 190,337,294.44 
			 2001 221,572,202.49 
			 2002 178,075,721.05 
			 2003 214,156,549.44 
			 Total 919,088,967.40 
		
	
	(3) Figures available from August 1999 only, due to implementation of current data management system. Data prior to that time could be accessed only at disproportionate cost in time and resources.

Branding

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will assess the benefits for English farmers of an English brand to compete with the Welsh and Scottish brands for beef and lamb.

Alun Michael: The branding of lamb and beef is a matter for the industry under the auspices of the English Beef and Lamb Executive (EBLEX). Defra strongly support the steps being taken by EBLEX to launch a marketing strategy for English beef and lamb.

Departmental Buildings

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list London buildings leased by her Department; what the total cost of such leases was in the latest year for which information is available; how many staff work in each building; and what the nature of their employment is.

Alun Michael: The Department leases the following London buildings for use by its civil servants and Ministers, where we are the sole occupier:
	
		
			  Staff 
		
		
			 10 Whitehall Place, SW1 326 
			 Nobel House, 17 Smith Square, SW1 550 
			 Ergon House, 17 Smith Square, SW1 568 
			 1A Page St, SW1 682 
			  Eastbury House, 30–34 Albert Embankment, SE1105 
			   
			 Cromwell House, Dean Stanley Street, SW1 183 
			 55 Whitehall, SW1(4) (4)Currently vacant 
			 3–8 Whitehall Place, SW1(5) (5)Currently beingredeveloped 
		
	
	(4) Although currently vacant, 55 Whitehall is being prepared for occupation by all of Defra's family of organisations moving from another central London location. It should be ready by September 2004.
	The total cost of the leases for these buildings for 2002–03 was £12,174,290.
	The Department also has agreements with other Government Departments to occupy space in their buildings:
	
		
			  Staff 
		
		
			 Ashdown House 646 
			 9 Millbank 255 
			 Woburn Place 132 
		
	
	Note
	Staff numbers quoted include part time staff, agency temps and consultants.

Farmers' Markets

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what help her Department gives to the setting-up of farmers' markets in England.

Alun Michael: Defra makes provision under the England Rural Development Programme for grants for projects promoting farmers' markets. Within the last year we awarded £100,256 to the National Association of Farmers' Markets (NAFM—now known as the National Farmers' Retail and Markets Association) to raise the profile of farmers' markets across England and to increase public awareness of them. NAFM also received funding from Defra under the Agriculture Development Scheme for the publication of information booklets and to help producers develop their knowledge of sales and marketing; and to help NAFM develop its certification programme for accrediting farmers' markets. The Countryside Agency, which we grant aid, also provided start-up funding to NAFM. In addition, in November 2002, my noble Friend, the Lord Whitty wrote to all Local Authorities outlining the benefits farmers' markets bring and the role they play in bringing urban and rural communities together. They offer an excellent outlet for farmers to sell their produce direct to consumers and the Department is keen to encourage their development.

Grazing Land

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much land in (a) the United Kingdom and (b) Europe is used for (i) grazing and (ii) growing food for animals; and what the figures were 10 years ago.

Alun Michael: The information is as follows:
	(a) UK
	
		(i) Area of land (hectares) used for grazing in the United Kingdom
		
			  1993 2003 
		
		
			 Permanent grass 5,274,280 5,683,469 
			 Temporary grass 1,582,160 1,200,550 
			 Sole rights rough grazing 4,878,598 4,329,287 
			 Common rough grazing 1,228,901 1,236,392 
		
	
	(ii) As some crops are grown for human as well as animal consultation, it is not possible to provide a complete total of the crops grown for animals but the June agricultural census indicates that the totals of crops grown specifically for stock feeding are:
	
		
			  Total fodder crops(5) 
		
		
			 1993 388,081 
			 2003 414,877 
		
	
	(5) Includes Turnips and Swedes, Fodder, beet and mangolds, Kale, Cabbage, savoy, kohlrabi and rape, all others for stock feeding.
	Source:
	June Agricultural Census
	(b) Europe
	Comparable figures are published from the EU Farm Structure Survey (Farm Structure Survey 1999/2000 ISBN 92–894—5618—3). The latest estimates for the Survey in 1999–2000 indicate that the area of permanent grassland and meadow was 45 m hectares for the EU 15 and 9 m hectares for the UK.
	Separate figures are not available for stock feeding crops.
	Fuller information on the surveys and results can be obtained from the Eurostat website.

Rights of Way

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to ban electric shopping scooters from rights of way; and if she will make a statement.

Alun Michael: We have no plans to ban electric shopping scooters. Section 34 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 provides that anyone driving a mechanically propelled vehicle off-road or on a road that is a footpath, bridleway or restricted byway without lawful authority is guilty of an offence. However, where an invalid carriage is being used in accordance with the Use of Invalid Carriages on Highways Regulations 1988, section 20(1)(b) of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Person Act 1970 provides an exemption for such vehicles. It specifically excludes the section 34 offences from applying to invalid carriages.

Temporary Staff

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many staff the Department employs on a temporary basis through employment agencies; what percentage this is of total staff employed; and how much the Department paid employment agencies to supply temporary staff in (a) 2001–02, (b) 2002–03 and (c) 2003–04 to the most recent date for which figures are available.

Alun Michael: There are no central records of the number of staff employed on a temporary basis through employment agencies. Departmental accounts show payments to employment agencies for the supply of temporary staff and consultants as follows: 2001–02—£27.03 million; 2002–03—£19.6 million; 2003/end of February 2004—£14.7 million.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Afghanistan

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assistance the Government are giving to the Afghan Government in reforming the civil service in Afghanistan.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: DFID has provided technical assistance to the Independent Administrative Reform and Civil Service Commission, Office of the President, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Rural Reconstruction and Development and the Ministry of Health. We also provided support last year for ministerial expenses.
	We have also committed funds to the Second Emergency Public Administration Programme, which is to be managed and co-funded by the World Bank. This programme will provide further support to the Independent Administrative Reform and Civil Service Commission; it will also provide technical assistance to a number of key Ministries for the preparation and implementation of the Priority Reform and Restructuring process. We also plan to support the establishment of an effective Cabinet Secretariat.
	All of these initiatives aim to help the Afghan Government work towards a merit-based, effective, well-structured civil service that can deliver the services the Afghan people need.

Burma

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much money his Department has provided in (a) 2002–03 and (b) 2003–04 to tackle HIV/AIDS in Burma.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: DFID's funding to tackle HIV/AIDS in Burma totalled £2.86 million in 2002–03 and is expected to total £2.84 million in 2003–04. The money is given to a UN Administered fund supported by DFID and three other donors for work on HIV/AIDS in Burma. Operational management is by a Technical Working Group chaired by UNAIDS. The Fund supports the work of international and national non-government organisations, UN agencies, and the Government's National Aids Programme.
	Our work to tackle HIV/AIDS is essential to preventing the humanitarian situation in Burma worsening considerably and it is in line with the EU Common Position.

EU Development Policy

Helen Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what response the Government has made to the document "Human Security: Placing Development at the Heart of the EU's External Relations" produced by the Irish EU Presidency Project.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: The Government have not made any formal response to the "Placing Development at the Heart of the European Union's External Relations" document, produced by the Irish Association of Non-Governmental Development Organisations. However we welcome many of the ideas in the report, such as the focus on multilateralism and on HIV/AIDS.

EU Development Policy

Helen Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what consultations the Government has had with the Irish Government about their proposals for international development in the recent Irish EU Presidency project document "Human Security: Placing Development at the Heart of the EU's External Relations".

Mr. Gareth Thomas: The Government have not had any specific consultations with the Irish Presidency about the "Placing Development at the Heart of the European Union's External Relations" produced by the Irish Association of Non-Governmental Development Organisations. We welcome many of the ideas in the report, such as the focus on multilateralism and on HIV/AIDS.

Haiti

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much money has been provided to Haiti in the last two years as part of multilateral programmes including those funded by (a) the European Union and (b) the World Bank.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: The data on how much British money has been provided to Haiti in the last two years as part of multilateral programmes is not available.
	The last available data is for 2001, where the UK's imputed multilateral share was £4.0 million, of which £1.8 million was through the European Union, and £0.1 million was through the World Bank.

Haiti

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether his Department plans to reassess its policy on the provision of bilateral aid to Haiti.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: DFID has no immediate plans to reassess its present policy on bilateral development assistance to Haiti. DFID will continue to provide direct funds to Haiti through the Small Grants Scheme and the Civil Society Challenge Fund. It will also continue to provide support to Haiti through contributions to international agencies working there.
	Given the current crisis, DFID has sent a two person team to Haiti to assess the humanitarian situation and discuss needs with humanitarian agencies, including the United Nations agencies that will shortly be launching a consolidated Flash Appeal.

Haiti

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much direct British Government aid has gone to (a) non-government organisations and (b) other civil society groups working in Haiti in the past three years; what other sums have been provided to Haiti; and to whom.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: In Financial Years 2000–01, 2001–02 and 2002–03, DFID has provided a total of £409,375 in direct British aid to Haiti. This amount includes all disbursements to non-government organisations and civil society groups through the Small Grants Scheme and the Civil Society Challenge Fund. The organisations which have made use of these funds are:
	Fraternité Notre Dame
	Plan International
	Concern
	Save the Children
	Catholic Relief Services
	Action Aid
	Oxfam
	CARE
	Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA)
	Médecins du Monde

Nepal

David Rendel: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what advice his Department gives to British aid workers in Nepal on the Government's policy towards (a) the Government of Nepal and (b) Maoist rebels against the Government of Nepal.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: DFID seeks to ensure that our assistance does not undermine the Nepal Government's capacity and, where possible, helps to develop it. DFID's new Country Assistance Plan to Nepal will be launched in country in April. It provides support to the Nepal Government with economic and social reform, particularly to improve delivery of basic services to poor people and to address discrimination on grounds of gender and caste. The programme also seeks to deliver development benefits to poor people in rural areas through a variety of channels.
	Many DFID funded programmes work directly or indirectly with the Nepal Government. It is important that they are run in the field with operational neutrality including the areas that have a strong Maoist presence. Programmes seek to ensure that developmental benefits reach the poor, and to ensure that our assistance is not used for any military, political or sectarian purposes. Our programmes are run transparently and are open to inspection by all.
	DFID has had a leading role in creating a multi-donor set of Basic Operating Guidelines, which reflect this advice.

Nepal

David Rendel: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on the safety of British aid workers in Nepal.

Hilary Benn: Both the Foreign Secretary and I attach high priority to the safety of British aid workers in Nepal and this issue has been the subject of regular discussions and correspondence on the government's policy towards the conflict.

Nepal

David Rendel: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he has taken to ensure the safety of British aid workers in Nepal.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: DFID gives the issue of staff safety in Nepal the highest priority. In 2002 we established a Risk Management Office (RMO) to provide risk assessment and crisis management expertise, as well as to provide training, support and advice to all staff associated with our programmes and projects. Since then the RMO has delivered training to over 300 field staff to help them to continue to work in remote and conflict affected parts of the country. The RMO undertakes risk assessments on a regular basis, the results of which are fed back to field managers. Field staff have also received assurances that DFID will support their decisions at any time to withdraw from an area because of concerns about their personal safety.

North Korea

Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the levels of food shortages in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: The Food and Agriculture Organisation estimates that the North Korean food output falls short of need by 944,000 tonnes, but due to the environment of secrecy and restrictions on agencies operating there, it is difficult to be certain of figures regarding the situation in North Korea. It is the case that around a quarter of the population of 22 million require food aid to meet the recommended daily calorie intake. This leaves many recipients, particularly children, the elderly and the sick, vulnerable to breaks in the supply of assistance.
	The World Food Programme has recently re-started cereal distributions following a stall in February brought about by a lack of contributions. It estimates however, that 1.5 million vulnerable people are still likely to go without assistance until the end of March when further contributions are expected. Beyond March, 600,000 core beneficiaries may still not receive cereal rations at least until June.
	It is important to tackle the problem of malnutrition through a balanced approach to its causes. Both my Department and the European Commission Humanitarian Office, are concerned that food aid currently accounts for 90 per cent. to 95 per cent. of requested assistance, while poor water and sanitation increases the prevalence of water-born diseases and diarrhoea, which in turn worsens malnutrition. A significant proportion of the population of 22 million have poor quality water and sanitation and only 52 per cent. have access to safe drinking water. DFID has recently agreed to provide £1.023 million in support of the United Nations Children's Fund for its work in water, sanitation and primary health care (e.g. vaccinations and other essential medical supplies) in North Korea.
	The European Commission is funding targeted food aid through the World Food Programme and other organisations. In January it agreed to give Euros5 million. The United Kingdom's share of European Community assistance is approximately £680,000.

Somalia

Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the levels of food shortages in Somalia.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: According to a recent report from the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), cereals availability across Somalia from the most recent harvest is higher than average, totalling 287,000 tonnes; total food aid requirements are lower than average at 70,000 tonnes (of which 18,000 tonnes have been pledged).
	The Somalia Food Security Assessment Unit is highlighting serious drought-related food insecurity in the north (in the Sool Plateau, Lower Nugaal, and Togdheer), and in central Somali regions. Most of southern Somalia is free from major food shortages, although some groups remain vulnerable, as indicated by high rates of malnutrition.
	In response to nutritional difficulties in Somalia, the UK is providing £480,000 to International Medical Corps for health and nutritional services, and has also given £300,000 to UNICEF for a nutrition project.

Sudan

Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the requirement for aid supplies for the Darfur region of Sudan.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: Access for humanitarian workers is now beginning to open up in Darfur. Some assessments of needs are now possible, in limited areas. We know from initial reports that immediate needs include shelter, water, health and food assistance.
	We have contributed over £6 million to the crisis in Darfur, through United Nations (UN) agencies and international non-governmental organisations. We have also provided four humanitarian affairs officers to assist the UN response for three months. Three of these will be based in Darfur and will, among other things, undertake assessments of humanitarian needs.
	We are urging all the parties involved to re-establish a ceasefire, preferably with international monitoring, permit humanitarian access to all those in need, and resume talks to find a peaceful solution to Darfur's problems.

Sudan

Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the influx of Sudanese refugees into Chad.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: A DFID Humanitarian Adviser visited Chad between 7 and 12 February. He visited refugees at the border with Sudan, who have fled from the fighting in Darfur in Western Sudan. The present location of refugees along the border is unsafe. New camps are being set up away from the border, where refugees will be safe from attack. Our Adviser visited one of these new relocation camps at Forchana. Other relocation camps are at Touloum and Kounoungu. Eight thousand refugees have been moved to the new camps to date.
	The general condition of the approximately 110,000 refugees is poor. Around Tine, Medecins Sans Frontieres established that 27 per cent. of children were malnourished, whereas around Adre only quite low levels of malnutrition were detected. Lack of food, shelter, safe drinking water and sanitation facilities are the main risks.
	There is an effective humanitarian response in place led by United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), with significant contributions from non-governmental emergency relief organisations. The UK is one of the major contributors to this effort with an early £1 million contribution to UNHCR in October last year.

CABINET OFFICE

Civil Service

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will make a statement on the relocation of civil service posts to the regions and nations of the UK.

Douglas Alexander: Sir Michael Lyons is currently leading an independent review of the scope to relocate civil servants and other public sector workers. Sir Michael will make recommendations to the Deputy Prime Minister and the Chancellor of the Exchequer. I understand that this will be shortly.

Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office when the Strategy Unit expects to publish its alcohol harm reduction strategy.

Douglas Alexander: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for North-West Leicestershire (David Taylor) on 3 February 2004, Official Report, column 619.

Better Regulation Task Force

Oliver Heald: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what assessment he has made of the progress made by the Better Regulation Task Force; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: The Better Regulation Task Force provides an important contribution to the Government's work on better regulation.
	Since its creation in 1997 it has produced 30 substantive reports with around 400 recommendations. The Government have accepted all but 10 of its recommendations.

Better Regulation Task Force

Oliver Heald: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the cost was of (a) the establishment and (b) the maintenance since its establishment of the Better Regulation Task Force.

Douglas Alexander: The Better Regulation Task Force was established in 1997. Before July 1999, the cost of the Task Force was met from within the budget of the Regulatory Impact Unit in the Cabinet Office. It is not possible to identify specific costs for the Task Force within this overall budget.
	Since July 1999, the Task Force has been supported by a dedicated support team. The costs of this, and the expenses of Task Force members, now amount to around £0.5 million per annum.

Better Regulation Task Force

Oliver Heald: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what recent representations he has received on the Better Regulation Task Force; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: The Better Regulation Task Force makes an important contribution to the Government's work on better regulation. I have discussed the work of the Task Force at a number of recent meetings including the seminar for MPs on better regulation held in January and the conference for independent regulators hosted by the NAO in October 2003.

Civil Service Recruitment

Oliver Heald: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what recent representations he has received regarding Civil Service recruitment; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: Under the Civil Service Order in Council 1995, individual government departments and agencies have delegated authority for the recruitment of staff to the Home Civil Service.
	The Cabinet Office has responsibility for the central framework of conditions, as set out in the Civil Service Management Code. As such, the Cabinet Office continues to receive representations from stakeholders and interested parties regarding recruitment to the Civil Service.

Computer Purchasing (Working Practices)

Helen Jones: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what steps the Cabinet Office is taking to ensure that Government Departments purchase computers from firms which ensure that their sub-contractors in developing countries respect workers' rights and provide decent working conditions; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Boateng: I have been asked to reply.
	Each Government Department is responsible for its own procurement decisions, within the framework of the Government's procurement policy, based on value for money, and the EU procurement rules. The information required from, or obligations placed on, suppliers should be relevant to the subject matter and performance of the particular contract and consistent with the requirements of the EU procurement directives, where applicable, and the EU Treaty. This applies to social, employment and ethical issues—whether it is in relation to the supplier itself or to any potential sub-contractors.

Crown Employment (Nationality Restrictions)

Oliver Heald: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what plans he has to review the nationality restrictions on Crown employment; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: The Government supports Andrew Dismore's Crown Employment (Nationality) Bill which is currently listed for Second Reading on 14 May.

Government Information andCommunication Service

Oliver Heald: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what plans he has to change the level of expenditure on the Government Information and Communication Service.

Douglas Alexander: Members of the GICS work across government.
	Individual departments are responsible for their own expenditure on Communications.
	Within the Cabinet Office, funding for existing GICS central functions will be maintained at current levels, pending the transfer of responsibilities to the new Permanent Secretary of Government Communications, whose appointment was recommended by the independent Phillis Review of Government Communications.

Regulatory Impact Assessments/Unit

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what resources have been allocated for the Regulatory Impact Assessment process for each year between 1998 and 2006.

Douglas Alexander: Information on the total resources allocated to the Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) process across Government are not held centrally. Each department is responsible for producing robust RIAs to assess the impact of proposals that are likely to have an effect on business, charities and the voluntary sector which consider all available options including non-regulatory alternatives.

Regulatory Impact Assessments/Unit

Oliver Heald: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many people are employed in the Regulatory Impact Unit.

Douglas Alexander: As at the 1 March 2004, 63 staff were working in the Regulatory Impact Unit.

Regulatory Impact Assessments/Unit

Oliver Heald: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what assessment he has made of the impact of the Regulatory Impact Unit; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: The Regulatory Impact Unit works with other Government Departments, agencies and regulators to promote the better regulation agenda. The work of the Unit covers the private and public sectors, domestic and European issues.
	In its assessments of the UK's performance in the area of regulatory reform the OECD has said that the UK is "at the forefront of regulatory reform" and "has almost the lowest administration cost and fewer regulations for entrepreneurs than any other EU country".

Websites

Oliver Heald: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office by what means his Department judges the cost-effectiveness of Government websites as an information tool.

Douglas Alexander: The provision and ongoing delivery of Government websites, is the responsibility of individual Government Departments and authorities.
	The Cabinet Office has published the Guidelines for UK Government websites, containing a substantial range of best practice on the building of websites, their management, their content, effective procurement and the evaluation of their reliability in delivering information to the citizen.

DEFENCE

Advertising

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what amount has been spent on Ministry of Defence advertising in the (a) UK, (b) Wales and (c) England since the beginning of hostilities in Iraq.

Adam Ingram: This information is not held centrally in the form requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Afghanistan

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  if he will list the plans (a) agreed to by his Department and (b) being discussed by his Department with regard to the use of British armed forces and personnel during expansion of NATO operations in Afghanistan;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the impact of the expansion of NATO operations in Afghanistan on the number of (a) international forces and (b) British armed forces based in Kabul.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 8 March 2004
	The expansion of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) will be carried out under a comprehensive NATO operational plan currently being prepared by the Alliance. This will assess troop requirements both in Kabul and elsewhere in Afghanistan. Decisions on the United Kingdom's military contribution to the international forces there will depend on the requirements of the operational plan and upon our determination to build on the success of the ISAF by offering to lead its expansion in Northern Afghanistan.

Aircraft Costs

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost is of each (a) Typhoon, (b) joint strike fighter, (c) A200M and (d) advanced jet trainer.

Adam Ingram: Unit production costs (UPC) for major equipment programmes, such as Typhoon, where these are practical to construct, can be found within the information given in the Ministry of Defence Major Projects Report (MPR). Those figures are estimated in accordance to methodology agreed with the National Audit Office (NAO). The NAO published their report on MPR 2003 on 23 January 2004 and copies are available in the Library of the House.
	The cost per unit of Typhoon as stated in MPR 2003 is £56.8 million.
	The unit production cost for the Joint Strike Fighter will not be agreed until after the completion of the current negotiations on the Production and Sustainment Phase Memorandum of Understanding. However, the estimated UPC of the Joint Strike Fighter aircraft is around $50 million on current planning assumptions.
	At part (c) of his question I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to A400M. The current forecast cost of the UK programme is £2356 million. I am withholding the unit price information in accordance with Exemption 13 of the Code of Practice access to Government Information, which relates to third party commercial confidences.
	The cost of each Advanced Jet Trainer will not be known until contractual negotiations with BAE Systems have been concluded. It should be noted that unit production costs are on a resource account basis and exclude development costs.

Birth Defects (Iraq)

Paul Tyler: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has examined evidence of birth defects among babies born to service families whose members were deployed in Iraq in 2003 and who were inoculated for anthrax, with particular reference to those serving in the 33 Field Hospital; and if he will make a statement.

Ivor Caplin: holding answer 8 March 2004
	The Health Protection Agency, which is a Special Health Authority accountable to the Secretary of State for Health, has confirmed that the anthrax vaccine has been used for many years and there has never been any indication that it could lead to congenital problems.

Civilian Jobs (Scotland)

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of his Department's civilian jobs are in Scotland, broken down by location.

Ivor Caplin: Information about the number of jobs is not available, only staff numbers. There were 6,510 civilian staff employed in Scotland as at 1 January 2004 (rounded to the nearest 10). This figure is for full-time equivalent, permanent, industrial and non-industrial staff, excluding Trading Funds, Royal Fleet Auxiliaries and those on career breaks, long term sick leave, secondments etc. Reliable data are not available below Government Office Region level.

Defence Contractors

Gerry Steinberg: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with reference to the evidence of the Permanent Secretary to the Committee of Public Accounts on 21 January, which foreign contractor, after winning a defence contract, refused to supply the goods; for what reasons; and whether others have done so in the last two years.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 5 March 2004
	In respect of the evidence given by the Permanent Secretary to the Committee of Public Accounts on 21 January, I presume my hon. Friend refers to the contract for the supply of ammunition for Underslung Grenade Launchers. In this case, there was no known instance of the contractor (RUAG) refusing to meet the contract, though deliveries of ammunition were suspended by the Swiss Government during the major hostilities in Iraq.
	As regards identifying any other foreign contractors who have refused to meet defence contracts in the last two years, the information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

WWI Executed Soldiers

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what representations and discussions he has had on the Irish Government's recent support for a pardon for those soldiers wrongly executed during the First World War as part of the 90th anniversary of the outbreak of the war;
	(2)  if he will make it his policy to consult the Irish Government prior to the anniversary of the start of the First World War on the possible pardon of soldiers who were wrongly executed during the First World War;
	(3)  what plans he has to grant pardons to the soldiers in the British Army who were executed in the First World War to mark the 90th anniversary of the outbreak of the war.

Ivor Caplin: This matter was fully examined during the detailed review led by my right hon. Friend the Member for Hamilton, North and Bellshill (Dr. John Reid), which was completed in 1998, and reported to the House, 24 July 1998, Official Report, columns 1372–86. As a result, those who were executed have been recognised as victims of the War.
	An initial meeting at official level has been held at the request of the Irish Government on the subject of a possible pardon for Irish soldiers executed during the First World War and further contact is expected.

Iraq

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether members of the Royal Military Police were involved in the (a) arrest and (b) detention of the six Iraqis who have died in British custody in Iraq.

Adam Ingram: We do not release details of units who are involved in any incident that the SIB have investigated, unless the case is referred for court martial.

Iraq

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many casualties witnessed by UK forces in Iraq have been reported; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 19 January 2004
	If United Kingdom forces witness an incident in which they are not directly involved and civilian or military personnel are injured they assist medically if necessary and endeavour to report it to the appropriate authority. We do not record the number of casualties witnessed in such incidents centrally.

Iraq

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many UK troops have been evacuated from Iraq for treatment of medical problems not related to wounds or injuries.

Adam Ingram: There have been 1,109 medical evacuations of British military personnel from Iraq between May 2003 and February 2004. Of these some 460 were evacuated for treatment of medical problems not related to wounds or injuries.

Iraq

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on the signing of liability waivers by Iraqi civilians who receive compensation payments from the UK for UK actions in Iraq;
	(2)  if he will place in the Library a copy of the text of the liability waivers presented to Iraqi families receiving compensation from the UK for harm caused by UK forces; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: holding answers 30 January 2004 and 12 February 2004
	Iraqi civilians who receive compensation payments from the United Kingdom do not sign liability waivers.

Iraq

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many UK (a) military and (b) civilian personnel have been (i) killed and (ii) injured in Iraq since 19 March 2003.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 30 January 2004
	Since 19 March 2003, 58 United Kingdom service personnel have died while deployed on operations in Iraq. One civilian, a member of the Defence Fire Service, has died in the same period.
	During major combat operations, from 19 March to 1 May 2003, UK forces suffered 155 battle casualties. Since then we have recorded centrally only those ill or injured personnel who have required medical evacuation to the UK. There have been 1,109 medical evacuations of British military personnel to date.

Iraq

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contamination has occurred from depleted uranium ordnance in Iraq; whether this has arisen from (a) toxicity, (b) ionising radiation and (c) other aspects associated with the ordnance; whether human safety measures in this connection have been put in place; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: DU is a "weakly radioactive substance" and its chemical toxicity is similar to that posed by other heavy metals such as lead.
	The overall responsibility for dealing with depleted uranium (DU) contamination in Iraq lies with the Coalition Provision Authority (CPA), unless it has adverse effects on Ministry of Defence service personnel or civilians in theatre.
	The MOD issues specific safety instructions to all personnel who may come into contact with Depleted Uranium (DU) in operational situations. These instructions have been publicly available on the MOD's website http://www.mod.uk/issues/depleted uranium/gulf safety instructions.htm since February 2003. In addition to these, the MOD is carrying out activities to reassure civilians that the risk posed to them by DU is as minimal as practically possible. Surface-lying DU fragments are being removed from the battlefield as they are discovered, and Iraqi locals have been warned through leaflets and signs that they should not go near or touch any debris they find on the battlefield.

Iraq

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the conclusions of each of the boards of inquiry from operations in Iraq which were outstanding on 31 October 2003 but which have since reported.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 5 March 2004
	Further to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for New Forest, West (Mr. Swayne) on 23 February 2004, Official Report, column 3W, I can confirm that the only Board of Inquiry to report since 31 October 2003, is that concerning the death of Marine Maddison on 30 March 2003. The Board of Inquiry concluded that Marine Maddison's death was as a result of a tragic friendly fire incident.

Iraq

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when DU information cards Ref F Med 1018 were first issued to troops in Iraq; on what advice it was deemed necessary to issue such warnings, and from whom; and if he will make a statement.

Ivor Caplin: The depleted uranium (DU) information card F MED 1018 was introduced on 26 March 2003. It is issued as a standard administrative procedure to those returning from Operation Telic in Iraq to confirm that they have been deployed in a theatre where DU munitions have been used and to remind them of their eligibility for a voluntary biological monitoring test to measure uranium in the urine. It is therefore not a warning card, but is intended to inform personnel about one of the tests available in line with the Ministry of Defence operational health policies.

Missile Defence

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects his Department's research into theatre ballistic missile defence to be able to report interim results and conclusions to (a) him and (b) Parliament; and what theatre ballistic missile defence is available to UK forces now.

Geoff Hoon: I expect to receive a report on the Ministry of Defence's three-year research programme into Theatre Ballistic Missile Defence this summer, but due to its classification, there are no plans to publish the report. I shall keep Parliament informed in the usual way, once I have had a chance to consider the report. Defence against theatre ballistic missiles comprises a number of components, including steps to prevent and counter proliferation, diplomatic measures, deterrence and passive and active defence. Passive defence may involve the dispersal of forces and the provision of protective equipment against nuclear, biological or chemical weapons. Within a coalition force, allied partners provide the active defence.

Parliamentary Questions

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many days on average his Department took in Session 2002–03 to give a substantive answer to a parliamentary question for ordinary written answer; and what the greatest number of days taken to answer such a question was.

Ivor Caplin: The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	Defence Ministers aim to answer ordinary written questions within five sitting days whenever possible.

Stonehenge

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has (a) received and (b) made about the Stonehenge Project Land Train route and dispersed visitor centre access scheme; whether the Larkhill Garrison Commander has made representations about the planned route; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 27 February 2004
	The Ministry of Defence has received a very small number of representations about the scheme, from local Councillors and from residents living close by. No formal representations have been made by MOD as the proposals are currently being discussed by officials from the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, English Heritage, the National Trust and Ministry of Defence.

Suez Canal Zone Medal

Nigel Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether (a) HMS Roebuck, (b) HMS Whirlwind and (c) HMS Wakeful served in the Suez Canal Zone for four months in each year from 1953 to 1955; whether veterans who served on those ships have an entitlement to the Suez Canal Zone Clasp; and how many veterans of the three ships have received the Canal Zone Clasps.

Ivor Caplin: Although records indicate that the ships were present in the Mediterranean and/or Gulf of Suez areas at intervals between October 1951 and October 1954, it has yet to be established whether they meet the qualifying criteria of 30 days continuous service in the Canal Zone area that is necessary to qualify for the award of the Naval General Service Medal with 'Canal Zone' clasp. Only once a ship's eligibility has been established will it be possible to assess each veteran's application to ascertain their individual eligibility. No medals or clasps have yet been issued to veterans of HMS Roebuck, HMS Whirlwind or HMS Wakeful.

Suez Canal Zone Medal

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Suez Canal Zone medals have been awarded to date in each Lancashire constituency.

Ivor Caplin: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 5 November 2003, Official Report, column 634W. Over 4,400 medals and Canal Zone clasps have now been despatched to eligible veterans and their families throughout the United Kingdom.

Suez Canal Zone Medal

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many campaign medals for those who served in the Suez Canal Zone between 1951 and 1954 have been issued since the decision was made to make this award.

Ivor Caplin: As at 20 February 2004 a total of 4,086 Naval General Service Medals 1915–62 and General Service Medals 1918–62 with the clasp Canal Zone, plus a further 321 clasps without medals, where the claimants had already received the medal with an appropriate clasp for other military campaign service had been despatched.

Suez Canal Zone Medal

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many complaints his Department has received from ex-service personnel and their families who have applied for the campaign medal for those ex-service personnel who served in the Suez Canal Zone between 1951 and 1954 about delays in the processing of their claims.

Ivor Caplin: In recent months the Ministry of Defence has received over 34,000 applications for the new Canal Zone medal. In addition, the medal offices and secretariat branches which deal with this subject have received several hundred letters and an unquantifiable number of telephone calls from veterans or their families asking for some indication of the progress of their claim. Fewer than 50 letters or calls could be described as 'complaints' and once the situation has been explained to them the majority of correspondents have been satisfied with the response.

Tomahawk Cruise Missiles

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  for what reason it is not proposed to arm the new Type 45 destroyers with Tomahawk cruise missiles;
	(2)  how many Tomahawk cruise missiles he estimates could be mounted on a Type 45 destroyer.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 4 March 2004
	The principal role of the Type 45 destroyer will be Anti-Air Warfare. There is currently no requirement for the Type 45 to be fitted with Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles (TLAM). If a requirement for TLAM arises in future, the Type 45 has been designed with substantial space and weight margins to enable its capability to be upgraded through life. We currently estimate that up to 16 TLAM missiles could be mounted on a Type 45 Destroyer.

Tomahawk Cruise Missiles

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy to include (a) Tomahawk cruise missiles and (b) a larger-calibre turret gun in the armament of the Type 45 destroyer fleet.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 4 March 2004
	There is currently no requirement to fit Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles or a larger calibre gun to Type 45 destroyers. Should such a requirement arise, these modifications could be made.

War Graves

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to allow old war graves to be relocated; and if he will make a statement.

Ivor Caplin: Only in exceptional circumstances, where the long-term security of a war grave is at risk and all other measures to ensure non-disturbance have been exhausted, will the Commonwealth War Graves Commission apply to the Home Office for an exhumation order. Once granted, the grave is transferred to the nearest Commission maintained war grave plot or cemetery.
	This position is confirmed in the recent Government Consultation Paper on Burial Law and Policy in the 21st Century which clearly stated that
	"war graves constitute a particular class of grave which, at least in municipal cemeteries enjoy special protection by virtue of certain powers and exceptions granted to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. It is not proposed that war cemeteries, or individual war graves, should be subject to a re-use regime."

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Attorney-General (Legal Advice)

Ian Lucas: To ask the Solicitor-General if she will list the occasions between November 1990 and May 1997 when legal advice given by the Attorney-General to the Government was made public.

Harriet Harman: I am aware of two occasions on which Law Officers' advice was disclosed between November 1990 and May 1997. In both cases disclosure was made for the purposes of judicial proceedings. In 1993, Law Officers' advice relevant to the subject matter of the Scott Inquiry was disclosed to it. The advice was published in an annex to the inquiry report. Law Officers' advice on the 1988 Merchant Shipping Act was disclosed to the other parties in the course of the Factortame litigation in which Spanish fisherman were seeking damages from the Government for a breach of Community law.
	On 15 February 1993 the views of the Law Officers were disclosed in the debate on the Maastricht Treaty. However, the Government of the day refused to disclose the full advice.

Iraq

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Solicitor-General if she will publish the factual evidence on which the Attorney-General's view on the legal basis for the use of force in Iraq, expressed in his answer of 17 March 2003, Official Report [Lords], columns WA2–3, was based; and if she will make a statement.

Harriet Harman: holding answer 25 February 2004
	No. This information is covered by legal professional privilege and the convention against disclosure of Law Officers' advice outside Government, mentioned in paragraph 24 of the Ministerial Code. This is consistent with paragraphs 2 and 4d of Part II of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.
	The Attorney-General made a statement in Parliament on 17 March 2003 setting out his view of the legal basis for the use of force against Iraq. On the same date, the Foreign Secretary submitted a memorandum to the Foreign Affairs Committee which gave further detail of the legal position.

Iraq

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Solicitor-General if she will list the occasions on which the Attorney-General formally submitted an opinion on the legality of the use of force against Iraq prior to 18 March 2003; and if she will make a statement.

Harriet Harman: holding answer 25 February 2004
	No. There is a long-standing convention, observed by successive Governments, that whether the Law Officers have advised on a particular matter, and the substance of any advice, is not disclosed outside Government. This is consistent with paragraphs 2 and 4d of Part II of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.
	The Attorney-General made a statement in Parliament on 17 March 2003 setting out his view of the legal basis for the use of force against Iraq. On the same date, the Foreign Secretary submitted a memorandum to the Foreign Affairs Committee which gave further detail of the legal position.

Professor Sir Roy Meadow

Oona King: To ask the Solicitor-General if the Attorney-General will review the cases of children separated from their parents following evidence from Professor Sir Roy Meadow used in family court judgments.

David Lammy: holding answer 16 December 2003
	I have been asked to reply.
	I refer my hon. Friend to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Minister for Children on 23 February 2004, Official Report, columns 38–39, which sets out our plans for the review of cases. Further, on 25 February, a Local Authority Circular (2004 (5)) was issued to councils with social services responsibilities, setting out the steps that they should take. A copy of this circular has been placed in the House of Commons Library.

TRANSPORT

Railways

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has for a new high speed rail link to the north of England and Scotland from London.

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the Commission for Integrated Transport report on high-speed rail.

Kim Howells: Consideration of the case for a North South High Speed Line must be for the longer term. The current priority for the Strategic Rail Authority and the rail industry is to improve the performance of the existing railway network.

Buses

Paul Truswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to facilitate the introduction of bus quality contracts outside London.

Tony McNulty: As I announced on 4 February, we are taking steps to improve the potential effectiveness of the bus quality contract provisions in the Transport Act 2000. We are about to consult stakeholders on the proposal to reduce the 21-month implementation period to a shorter minimum period in the range 6–15 months.

Airports

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his policy is on expansion of small airports in South East England.

Tony McNulty: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the White Paper "The Future of Air Transport", which makes it clear that smaller airports have an important role to play in relieving pressure on the main South East airports, particularly in the period before a new runway is built in the South East. We support their further development in principle, subject to consideration of relevant environmental, surface access and airspace constraints. Any development proposals will need to be decided locally through the planning system.

Speed Cameras

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will estimate how many (a) lives have been saved and (b) serious injuries have been prevented in the last 12 months as a result of the installation of speed safety cameras.

David Jamieson: The evaluation of the 2-year pilot of the safety camera programme covering 2000–01 and 2001–02 concluded that in those participating areas there had been a 35 per cent. reduction in those killed or seriously injured at camera sites. This equated to 280 fewer killed and seriously injured casualties. Information for 2002–03 will be contained in the 3-year evaluation report which will be published shortly.

Transport (Nottingham, North)

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will visit Nottingham, North to discuss local transport.

Tony McNulty: My right hon. Friend visited Nottingham on 8 March 2004 to open the Nottingham Express Transit Line 1, where he had the opportunity to meet with local authority officials to discuss local transport issues.

HGV Drivers

John Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the future need for heavy goods vehicle drivers.

David Jamieson: The key change in the need for HGV drivers will result from the introduction of EU working time legislation for road transport. We have estimated that this will require around 12,000 extra drivers.

Aviation

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on the UK's commitment to a fully liberalised aviation treaty between the EU and the US; [R]
	(2)  what progress has been made at the recent talks in Washington between the EU and the US on an open aviation area; [R]
	(3)  what steps he is taking to promote the interests of (a) the UK and (b) UK aviation during the open aviation talks between the EU and the US; [R]
	(4)  if he will make representations for restrictions on (a) ownership, (b) cabotage rights, (c) wet lease and (d) the Fly America policy to be removed as part of any agreement on an open aviation area between the EU and the US; [R]
	(5)  what further progress is expected at the next meeting between the EU and US on an open aviation area. [R]

Tony McNulty: The Government have supported a mandate for the European Commission to negotiate an open aviation area with the US on the basis that this will be an area where air carriers of both sides will be able to establish themselves and freely provide services according to commercial principles, competing on a fair and equal basis. The offer made by the US at the recent talks falls far short of this objective. We will continue to take every opportunity, including meetings of the Transport Council and our participation in the Special Committee of Member State representatives, to make the case for a fully liberalised EU/US aviation agreement, including the removal of restrictions in areas such as airline ownership, market access and aircraft leasing.

Crossrail

John Cryer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the importance of Crossrail (a) to those who work in London and (b) to London businesses.

Tony McNulty: These issues were covered in Cross London Rail Link Limited's Crossrail Business Case. They have been considered in the context of the review of the proposals undertaken under the chairmanship of Adrian Montague, whose work has also been informed by meetings with key London stakeholders. My right hon. Friend has now received advice from Adrian Montague which he is studying closely and whose findings will be published in due course.

Cycling

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress he has made towards introducing and extending (a) a cycle-friendly road network, (b) cycle training, (c) a network of bus lanes, (d) minimum quality standards for bus services, (e) minimum standards for rail services, (f) safe routes to schools, (g) lower speed limits, (h) a discount network rail card, (i) greater purchase incentives for smaller cleaner vehicles, (j) grants for rail freight projects, (k) increased funding for public transport and (l) pay-as-you-go road user charging; and what steps he has taken to improve streets, lanes and paths for walking.

Tony McNulty: "Delivering Better Transport: Progress Report" published in December 2002 set out the progress made in Delivering the 10 Year Plan for Transport in the first 18 months of its life. As promised in that report we are now reviewing the Plan, taking account of events and achievements since its implementation. We expect to set out in the Summer how the strategy will be rolled forward to 2015 and beyond.

Departmental Communications

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  how many staff are employed in the Department to work in the communications field, broken down by (a) Government Information and Communication Service staff and (b) other staff, broken down by (i) press officers, (ii) special advisers and (iii) others;
	(2)  what the total expenditure on communications for the Department has been in 2003–04, broken down by expenditure on (a) Government Information and Communications Service staff and (b) other staff, broken down by (i) press officers.(ii) special advisers and (iii) others.

Tony McNulty: The average number of full-time equivalent staff employed in DfT (central)'s Communication Directorate and the related forecast expenditure for 2003–04 is:
	
		Staff
		
			  Press officers Others Total 
		
		
			 GICS staff 13.0 29.8 42.8 
			 Other staff 0.8 28.3 29.1 
			 Total 13.8 58.0 7.1.8 
		
	
	
		£ million
		
			  Press officers Others Total 
		
		
			 GICS staff 0.62 1.33 1.95 
			 Other staff 0.06 0.97 1.03 
			 Total 0.68 2.30 2.98 
		
	
	The Special Advisers' Code of Conduct sets out the sort of work a special adviser may undertake on behalf of their Minister. This includes communications activity. Details of the costs of Special Advisers are given on an annual basis. Information for the financial year 2003–04 will be published in due course.

Departmental Staff

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on future staffing levels for the Department; and what plans the Department has for (a) staff cuts, (b) voluntary retirements and (c) voluntary redundancies.

Tony McNulty: The Department for Transport was formed in May 2002. The functions the Department needs to undertake has been clarified and a Corporate Business Plan has been drafted to provide direction and enable the Department to meet its PSA targets.
	The staffing level required to deliver the Department's priorities is being considered along with piloting new ways of working flexibly. The intention is to reduce the number of posts overall and create a smaller more strategic centre. There are no concrete plans at the moment and the Department is unable to predict the number of staff that may be surplus. Wherever possible and practicable the exit of staff from the Department will be on a voluntary basis using redundancy and retirements to facilitate the process. The Department will, however, ensure that staff with the appropriate skills to take forward its agenda, remain within the Department.

Eurotunnel

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the cost of the minimum usage charge paid to Eurotunnel was in each year since its inception.

Tony McNulty: The total annual payment by the railways is published annually in Eurotunnel's accounts, which are available from the company. The figures include a contribution towards operating expenditure, variable toll elements, and the additional contribution needed to achieve the Minimum Usage Charge. The precise composition of the payments is a commercial matter for the companies concerned.

Integrated Transport

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress he has made towards introducing an integrated transport system; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: "Delivering Better Transport: Progress Report" published in December 2002 set out the progress made in Delivering the 10 Year Plan for Transport in the first 18 months of its life. As promised in that report we are now reviewing the Plan, taking account of events and achievements since its implementation. We expect to set out in the Summer how the strategy will be rolled forward to 2015 and beyond.

Radio and Television Advertising

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  how much his Department is spending on radio advertising in the current financial year; and how much is planned for next year;
	(2)  how much his Department has spent on (a) radio and (b) television advertising in each of the last five years.

Kim Howells: The Department for Transport was formed in May 2002. Our current forecast expenditure outturn for 2003–04, is £2.62 million on radio advertising. The estimated figure for 2004–05 is £3.3 million, the majority of which will be devoted to the THINK! road safety campaign.
	Media expenditure covering road safety in 2002–03 was £5.6 million on TV and £2.6 million on radio.

Rail Regulator

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to extend the remit of the Rail Regulator to include the train leasing companies.

Tony McNulty: The review of the structure and organisation of the rail industry announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 19 January will consider whether there should be any extension to the remit of the Rail Regulator. We will publish our proposals for change in the summer.

Rail Services

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  which bodies he is suggesting to consultees may be responsible for regulating the (a) ticket costs, (b) service levels and timetables and (c) access issues for community railways;
	(2)  which organisation he is suggesting to consultees may be responsible for (a) setting and (b) monitoring and regulating (i) maintenance, (ii) operational standards and (iii) safety for community railways;
	(3)  what the suggested structures for (a) ownership, (b) management and (c) operational responsibilities are for community railways;
	(4)  on which lines he is consulting about whether they should become community railways; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: The Strategic Rail Authority published its consultation paper on a strategy for Community Railways on 26 February. The Authority is consulting on proposals to offer much greater community involvement in determining issues for Community Railways. The strategy is aimed at simplifying and structuring their regulation and it outlines options to strengthen local management and to simplify and improve the effectiveness of operational responsibilities on Community Railways. No change is proposed in the current ownership of railway infrastructure by Network Rail, or in the primary responsibilities of the duty holder in respect of safe operation of these railways.
	The lines to be consulted upon are listed in the consultation paper. The paper has been sent to MPs with constituencies covering these lines and has been placed in the Library of the House.

Rail Services

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what sources of (a) public and (b) private funding he plans will be available to Community Railways.

Tony McNulty: Community Railways lines form part of larger franchises which already make use of public and private funding. Whatever the source of funding, it is remunerated by the user through fares and freight charges and by the taxpayer through franchise support payments or grants. This will continue to be the case. Community Rail Partnerships currently seek further local funding support to improve services and facilities, recognising the benefit of such improvements to the local economy and environment.

Recruitment

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the cost of recruitment of civil servants for the Department was in each financial year since 1996–97, broken down by (a) delegated or contracted out recruitment procedures and (b) recruitment procedures carried out by the Department.

Tony McNulty: The Department for Transport was formed in May 2002. For open competitions for permanent positions below the Senior Civil Service (SCS), the Department uses two contracted out recruitment consultants. For open competitions for SCS positions, the Department uses specialist recruitment consultants taken from the Cabinet Office Central Call-Off Contract for recruitment into the SCS.
	Following are details of the costs incurred by DfT (Central) for contracted out recruitment procedures:
	
		
			  (£) 
		
		
			 2002–03  
			 Senior Civil Service 309,237.08 
			 Below SCS 211,626.55 
			 2003–04 to date  
			 Senior Civil Service 781,378.64 
			 Below SCS 582,084.33 
		
	
	The 'Below SCS' details do not include costs incurred by the Department's Executive Agencies as they have responsibility for their own recruitment for below SCS. We are unable to provide costs for recruitment procedures carried out by the Department itself as these costs could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Senior Civil Service

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what basic pay and bonuses were awarded in relation to the 2003 pay round for (a) the Permanent Secretary, (b) each of the chief executives of the Department's agencies and (c) each Grade 2 in the Department.

Tony McNulty: It is not our policy to provide information on pay and bonus that are identifiable to particular individuals. The base pay awards for Directors General (formerly Grade 2s) ranged between 4 and 8 per cent. Non consolidated bonus awards ranged from zero to £9,000. Base pay awards for agency Chief Executives ranged from 2.25 to 4.0 per cent. with non consolidated bonus awards ranging from zero to £15,800.

Senior Civil Service

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the total cost of the senior civil service in the Department is.

Tony McNulty: The total cost of the salaries as at 1 March 2004 of the senior civil service in DfT central and the agencies is £10.5 million. This figure includes the costs of the Permanent Secretary and chief executives of the agencies.

Senior Civil Service

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the total cost of the pay increases in the Department awarded to the senior civil service as a result of the 2003 pay round.

Tony McNulty: The total cost of the increase to basic pay awarded to the senior civil service in DfT central and the agencies, as a result of the 2003 pay round, was £0.4 million. This amount also includes those awards given to senior civil servants on fixed term contracts that received the revalorisation rate of 2.25 per cent.

Sick Leave

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the average number of sick days taken by each grade in 2003 in (a) the Department and (b) its agencies.

Tony McNulty: In 2003 the total number of days sick absence recorded for the Department for Transport and its Agencies was 164,364 days. This is monitored on an overall average days per staff year basis, and the 2003 figures were:
	
		
			  Days 
		
		
			 Department for Transport (Central) (DfT(C)) 5.7 
			 Driving Standards Agency (DSA) 12.7 
			 Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) 12.7 
			 Highways Agency (HA) 8.3 
			 Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) 8.4 
			 Vehicle Certification Agency (VGA) 5.9 
			 Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) 9.0 
			 Total Department for Transport 10.4 
		
	
	The average number of sick days taken by each grade in DfT(C) was recorded as:
	
		
			  Days 
		
		
			 Pay Band 1/Secretarial 5.5 
			 Pay Band 2 6.9 
			 Pay Band 3 6.6 
			 Pay Band 4 4.9 
			 Pay Band 5 3.9 
			 Pay Band 6 2.0 
			 Pay Band 7 2.1 
			 Senior Civil Service 0.6 
			 Average DfT(C) 5.7 
		
	
	The Agencies are responsible for their own staffing arrangements and have their own grading structures. Similar breakdowns of average days by grade levels for the Agencies are not readily available.
	The Department and its Agencies are committed to managing sickness absence effectively. This includes actively reviewing statistics and trends and gaining a clearer understanding of the reasons for non-attendance.

South Hampshire Rapid Transit

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to announce a decision on the Government's funding of the South Hampshire Rapid Transit system.

Tony McNulty: The Secretary of State recently received further information on this scheme following a significant increase in the proposed level of central Government funding. A decision will be made in due course.

Thames Gateway

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the cost of the integrated transport infrastructure requirement for the Thames Gateway.

Tony McNulty: The Government have already committed more that £600 million to transport projects within the Thames Gateway. These include DLR extensions to City airport and improvements to the A2/A282 near Dartford.
	In his statement on 30 July 2003, my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister identified some of the transport infrastructure projects that could potentially help to support housing growth including domestic services on the channel tunnel rail link, extensions to the Docklands light rail (DLR) network and bus transit systems for east and south east London and Kent Thameside.
	In relation to local transport schemes, it is for local authorities in the Thames Gateway area to bring forward major schemes through the Local Transport Plan process for consideration by Ministers.

Westminster Hall

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy to have senior Ministers reply to debates in Westminster Hall.

Tony McNulty: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by the Leader of the House on 8 March 2004, Official Report, column 1234W.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Legal Aid

Paul Keetch: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs under what circumstances legal aid is available to those contesting legal cases involving children; and if he will make a statement.

David Lammy: Legal aid is available for parties involved in contested proceedings involving children. In certain special cases under the Children Act 1989 funding is available free to people who have parental responsibility, without any means or merits tests. These cases are mostly to do with public authorities intervening in the relationship between parents (or those with parental responsibility) and children, such as care proceedings. All other grants of funding are subject to means and merits criteria. The means criteria are set out in the Community Legal Service Financial Regulations 2000 (as amended) and considered against the relevant merits criteria set out in the Funding Code determining income and capital thresholds above which legal aid is not available. The merits criteria are also set out in the Funding Code and aim to ensure that funding is only available in circumstances where a reasonable private paying client would be prepared to proceed.
	Legal aid must also take into account the Legal Services Commission's (LSCs) published guidance which further encourages cost effective dispute resolution. All grants of legal aid are subject to limitations as to what steps can be undertaken and what level of costs may be incurred.
	The LSC also funds family mediation services with a view to resolving cases amicably without contested proceedings. With certain exceptions, funding for court proceedings will be refused unless the client has seen a mediator to assess the suitability of the case for mediation.

Legal Aid

Paul Keetch: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what restrictions are placed on the availability of legal aid for use in cases where costs orders cannot be made; and if he will make a statement.

David Lammy: Each application for legal aid is subject to the statutory tests of the applicant's means as set out in the Community Legal Service Financial Regulations 2000 (as amended) and considered against the relevant merits criteria set out in the Funding Code.
	A funded client's liability for costs is limited to the amount, if any, which is reasonable for him to pay, having regard to all the circumstances of the case, including the means and conduct of both parties. The awarding of costs is a matter for the court, whether a party is publicly funded or not. Whether a cost order can be made is not taken into account in determining eligibility for legal aid.
	Cost protection has always been a feature of the legal aid scheme; it provides that costs orders cannot be enforced against a funded client except to the extent that the court considers it reasonable. In limited circumstances a successful opponent may be entitled to costs from the Community Legal Service fund.

Parliamentary Elections

Alan Whitehead: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs if he will list the 20 constituencies in which the highest number of electors have been lost from the parliamentary register between 2000 and 2004.

Ruth Kelly: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Dr. Alan Whitehead, dated 9 March 2004
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning the 20 constituencies with the highest loss of electorate between 2000 and 2004. (158959)
	A table showing the total and percentage change of the 20 parliamentary constituencies with the greatest fall in number of registered electors over the period 16 February 2001 to 1 December 2003 (or to 2 February 2004 for Northern Ireland) is shown. The Office for National Statistics did not publish electoral data for parliamentary constituencies for 2000 and therefore the 2001 figures have been used. 2004 data are not available (except for Northern Ireland) therefore the most recent data available, 1 December 2003, have been used.
	It should be noted that these figures represent the number of 'registered' electors. In many cases, especially in Northern Ireland, large decreases may be due to 'cleaning' of the registers rather than actual falls in the number of electors. In the case of Northern Ireland, the Electoral Commission carried out a review of the workings of the Electoral Fraud (Northern Ireland) Act 2002. This act introduced a new system for registering electors in Northern Ireland. The Electoral Commission's review report 1 on the Act's first year of operation stated that the number of registered electors in Northern Ireland fell by 10 per cent. in the first register published under this new system.
	1 "The Electoral Fraud (Northern Ireland) Act 2002, an Assessment of its First Year in Operation, Research Report December 2003"
	
		Parliamentary constituencies with the 20 largest falls in the numbers of registered electors between 2001 and 2003 (6), ranked by size of absolute change
		
			 Constituency Electors 1 February 2001 Electors 1 December 2003 Absolute change Percentage change 
		
		
			 1 Brentford and Isleworth 83,420 67,934 -15,486 -18.6 
			 2 Belfast West 60,377 47,139 -13,238 -21.9 
			 3 Belfast North 61,646 49,054 -12,592 -20.4 
			 4 Portsmouth South 77,372 66,162 -11,210 -14.5 
			 5 Belfast South 59,937 49,207 -10,730 -17.9 
			 6 Edinburgh Central 66,296 55,714 -10,582 -16.0 
			 7 Foyle 71,835 62,321 -9,514 -13.2 
			 8 Belfast East 59,044 49,930 -9,114 -15.4 
			 9 South Antrim 71,316 62,906 -8,410 -11.8 
			 10 Strangford 72,948 64,718 -8,230 -11.3 
			 11 Lagan Valley 73,494 65,545 -7,949 -10.8 
			 12 North Down 63,944 56,030 -7,914 -12.4 
			 13 Rhondda 56,096 48,332 -7,764 -13.8 
			 14 Glasgow Maryhill 55,087 47,525 -7,562 -13.7 
			 15 Bradford West 72,193 64,663 -7,530 -10.4 
			 16 Edinburgh South 64,437 57,274 -7,163 -11.1 
			 17 Brent East 58,082 51,114 -6,968 -12.0 
			 18 East Antrim 61,597 54,644 -6,953 -11.3 
			 19 Bolton South East 68,080 61,198 -6,882 -10.1 
			 20 Dulwich and West Norwood 70,301 63,489 -6,812 -9.7 
		
	
	(6) 2 February 2004 for Northern Ireland
	Source:
	Office for National Statistics

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Asbestos

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the buildings occupied by her departmental staff and agency staff, which require (a) remedial work on and (b) the removal of asbestos; what that work will cost; what budgets are available for this work for (i) 2004 and (ii) 2005; and what budget is available for future asbestos surveys.

Patricia Hewitt: The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has no buildings which currently require remedial work or removal of asbestos. There is no specific budget for asbestos surveys or any resulting remedial work and such costs are included as part of the normal operating costs associated with the DTI estate. For those agencies where the Department holds budgetary information, the position is similar.

Broadband

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the benefits that could accrue from the process of local loop unbundling.

Stephen Timms: Local loop unbundling is increasingly widely used in the UK.
	The Government believe the key benefit to accrue from the process of local loop unbundling is the promotion of competition.
	Ofcom has proposed a local loop unbundling market review in its Annual Plan for 2004–05.

Cast Metal Industry

Adrian Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the impact of the change in scrap metal prices on the British cast metal industry.

Jacqui Smith: I am aware of the difficulties that are being faced by UK cast metal producers as a result of rises in the world price of scrap metal and industry's concerns about the implications for competitiveness. It is widely accepted that the cause is soaring demand for steel in China and the knock-on effect on raw materials costs. We are monitoring developments and I will be meeting my hon. Friend the representatives of the cast metals industry later this month to discuss the situation further.

Combined Heat and Power

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what her Department's responsibilities are for meeting the Energy White Paper target of achieving 10GW of combined heat and power by 2010.

Stephen Timms: Defra take the lead on delivery of the combined heat and power (CHP) target, working closely with DTI and other departments and agencies as part of the Sustainable Energy Policy Network.
	My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has recently issued guidance to the Gas and Electricity Markets Authority on social and environmental issues, under the terms of the Utilities Act 2000, drawing attention to the importance of Energy White Paper goals, including the 10GW CHP target.
	Further information on how the Government are working towards the Energy White Paper target will be available in the CHP Strategy, due to be published after the Easter recess.

Combined Heat and Power

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions her Department has had with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs concerning combined heat and power; and if she will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: The Department has regular discussions with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs about combined heat and power both in the context of implementing the Energy White Paper and preparing for debates on the Energy Bill.

Company Voluntary Agreements

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the effectiveness of company voluntary agreements.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The company voluntary arrangement procedure was introduced in 1986 and allows a financially troubled company to reach a binding agreement with its creditors to pay them in full or in part over a period of time. However, the recession of the early 1990s showed it was not particularly effective for the small financially troubled company because there was no stay on creditors' actions in the period before an arrangement could be agreed. Therefore, in 2000, this Government introduced the option of a short stay on creditors' rights, into that procedure, to give the company's management a breathing space in which to put a rescue plan to creditors. Other technical amendments were also made to improve the procedure's efficiency and effectiveness.

Company Voluntary Agreements

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry in how many company voluntary agreements creditors received monies owed in each year since 2000.

Gerry Sutcliffe: We do not record statistical data which would provide this information.

Company Voluntary Agreements

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many company voluntary agreements were entered into in each year since 2000.

Gerry Sutcliffe: In the years 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003 respectively 557, 597, 651 and 726 company voluntary arrangements were entered into.

Company Voluntary Agreements

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many companies have entered into company voluntary agreements and have continued trading in each year since 2000.

Gerry Sutcliffe: In the years 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003 respectively 557, 597, 651 and 726 companies entered into voluntary arrangements but we do not record statistical data, which would reveal how many of them continued trading once the arrangements had been agreed.

Copyright Directive

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress has been made with ensuring compliance with the EU Copyright Directive; and if she will make a statement.

Patricia Hewitt: The Copyright and Related Rights Regulations 2003 (SI 2003 No. 2498) bringing UK law into full compliance with the EU copyright Directive came into force on 31 October 2003.

Data Protection

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment her Department has made of the data protection implications of the offshoring of the processing of financial details.

Patricia Hewitt: Under the Data Protection Act, companies who control data remain responsible for how data are processed overseas on their behalf. They remain bound by the requirements of the Act, in particular its requirement for data to be kept secure. The method of transfer must include measures to ensure the security of the processing and security against breaches of the Act. Companies must also be open with individuals about how information they collect on them is intended to be used.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much coltan was imported by the United Kingdom from the Democratic Republic of the Congo in each of the last two years; and if she will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: According to information published by HM Customs and Excise, there were no imports of coltan from the Democratic Republic of Congo into the United Kingdom in 2002 or 2003.

Elexon Ltd.

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of whether Elexon Ltd.'s remit should be extended to electricity trading arrangements in Scotland.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 8 March 2004
	Ofgem and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), as part of the second consultation on the legal text of a Great Britain (GB) Balancing and Settlement Code (BSC) (June 2003), consulted on whether Elexon's remit, as the Balancing and Settlement Code Company (BSCCo), should be extended to electricity trading arrangements in Scotland. After considering responses to this consultation Ofgem and DTI concluded that Elexon should undertake the role of the GB BSCCo and that a competitive tender exercise was not necessary.

Elexon Ltd.

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what her role is in (a) the appointment of the (i) Chairman and (ii) Board of Elexon Ltd. and (b) determining the terms and conditions of appointment of the (i) Chairman and (ii) Board.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 8 March 2004
	My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has no role in the appointment of the Chairman and/or Board of Elexon Ltd. The Elexon Chairman and Board are appointed in accordance with the arrangements set out in the Balancing and Settlement Code (BSC) in Section C4.1. The Chairman of the Board is the Chairman of the BSC Panel. The Chairman of the BSC Panel is appointed by the Gas and Electricity Markets Authority. Other Directors are appointed by the BSC Panel and by the Chairman.
	Any change to these arrangements would require a modification proposal to be progressed through the BSC modification procedures as outlined in Section F of the BSC. This process is designed to be transparent and inclusive. Modification proposals are subjected to a series of industry consultations, and are usually assessed in detail by a group of industry experts, and then considered by the BSC Panel (which comprises five members elected by parties to the BSC, a potential 6th member drawn from licence exempt suppliers or generators, two members nominated by energywatch, two independent members, one member nominated by NGT, one representative of distribution system operators and is attended by Ofgem) before being approved or rejected by the Gas and Electricity Markets Authority.

Elexon Ltd.

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the shareholders of Elexon Ltd.; and what assessment she has made of the board's corporate governance arrangements.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 8 March 2004
	Elexon Ltd. is the Balancing and Settlement Code Company (BSCCo) established under the provisions of the Balancing and Settlement Code (BSC). The BSC is given effect through Section C3 of National Grid Transco's (NGT) Transmission Licence.
	Elexon is a wholly owned subsidiary of National Grid Transco (NGT). However, Elexon is independently governed and has a separate Board of Directors. Elexon operates outside the commercial and operational interests and control of NGT. Shareholder control by NGT can only be exerted within the limited circumstances outlined in the BSC.
	Elexon's corporate governance arrangements were carefully considered and consulted on, by Ofgem and the DTI before the implementation of the New Electricity Trading Arrangements (NETA) when the BSC was designated by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State through the authority provided in the Utilities Act 2000.

Elexon Ltd.

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the role of Elexon Ltd. is in the operation of the electricity market in England and Wales; if she will undertake a review of this role; and if she will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 8 March 2004
	Elexon Ltd. is the Balancing and Settlement Code Company (BSCCo) established under the provisions of the Balancing and Settlement Code (BSC). The principal role of the BSCCo is to provide and procure facilities, resources and services (including providing or procuring resources required by the BSC Panel and BSC Panel Committees, and procuring services under BSC service descriptions) required for the proper, effective and efficient implementation of the BSC. The powers of the BSCCo are subject to the restrictions and limits set out in the BSC.
	The systems and processes outlined in the BSC have operated effectively since the introduction of the New Electricity Trading Arrangements (NETA) on 27 March 2001. These include arrangements for the use of meter readings to allocate energy between participants, to register energy trades, to aggregate balance positions and to calculate and apply imbalance prices for each half an hour, twenty four hours a day. They underpin competition in generation and in the supply of electricity.
	Extensive consultations were carried out by the DTI and Ofgem on the role of Elexon prior to the inception of the New Electricity Trading Arrangements in March 2001. Ofgem and the DTI, as part of the second consultation on the legal text of a Great Britain Balancing and Settlement Code (June 2003), also consulted on whether Elexon's remit, as the Balancing and Settlement Code Company, should be extended to electricity trading arrangements in Scotland. In addition, Ofgem keeps the operation of the BSC under constant review and considers the annual business strategy and budget documents carefully.

Elexon Ltd.

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the application of the statutory Environmental and Social guidelines of the Gas and Electricity Markets Authority to Elexon Ltd.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 8 March 2004
	The statutory Environmental and Social guidelines to the Gas and Electricity Markets Authority do not apply to Elexon. As the Balancing and Settlement Code Company (BSCCo), Elexon has the powers and functions and responsibilities set out and assigned to it in the Balancing and Settlement Code (BSC) and, in accordance with BSC Section C 1.2.2, may not conduct business or activities not provided for in the BSC.
	It should be noted, however, that the Gas and Electricity Markets Authority (the Authority) has the role of determining whether a modification to the BSC should or should not be made. In making its decision, the Authority is obliged to take into consideration its wider statutory obligations. The Authority is also obliged to carry out a Regulatory Impact Assessment in relation to any important Modification Proposal.

Employment (Offshoring)

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the types of jobs that have been offshored in the past 12 months.

Patricia Hewitt: The principal areas where services work has been transferred offshore include call centres, data and business processing and analysis ("back office") operations, and IT services such as software development.
	My Department has commissioned research on the key factors contributing to the relative competitiveness of UK call centre operations to help identify any appropriate actions which need to be taken by industry or Government in response to the increasingly global market for call centre services. This will include an examination of the main product areas in the UK call and contact centre industry that are vulnerable to growing competition from lower-wage economies; which types of call and contract centre activity and which regions have been most affected or are most likely to be affected in the near future.

Export Credits Guarantee Department

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what rate of remuneration will be paid to the Chair of the Export Credits Guarantee Department.

Mike O'Brien: £500 gross per day.
	The Chair of ECGD is a part-time role involving an initial commitment of 1–2 days per week eventually reducing to 1–2 days per month.

Export Licences

David Rendel: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list export licences granted for the sale of defence (a) equipment and (b) equipment components to Nepal for each year since and including 2001.

Nigel Griffiths: holding answer 5 March 2004
	Details of all export licences approved for Nepal in 2001 and 2002 are published in the Government's Annual Reports on Strategic Export Controls, copies of which are available from the Libraries of the House. Details of export licences approved in 2003 will be published later this year in the 2003 Annual Report, and details for 2004, similarly in the 2004 Annual Report.

Financial Services and Markets Act 2002

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations she has received from business on the (a) registration costs and (b) authorisation process for companies offering customer insurance under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2002.

Ruth Kelly: I have been asked to reply.
	The Government are giving the Financial Services Authority (FSA) responsibility for regulating general insurance mediation as from 14 January 2005. This implements the European Union's Insurance Mediation Directive. On 5 June 2003, the Government published a regulatory impact assessment (RIA) to accompany the implementing legislation. This is available from the Treasury website www.hm-treasury.gov.uk. The RIA took into account comments from business and others made during the public consultation on the draft legislation. Under its statutory responsibilities, the FSA is obliged to consult on and to carry out a cost benefit analysis on its regulatory activities and others made during the public consultation on the draft legislation.
	Under its statutory responsibilities, the FSA is obliged to consult on and to carry out a cost benefit analysis on its regulatory activities .

Information Technology

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what her Department's information technology budget was for each year since 1997.

Patricia Hewitt: Total spending by Department of Trade and Industry, (excluding agencies), on Information Technology was £12.1 million in 1998–99. Subsequent to this the Department entered into a PFI partnership agreement with UNITAS, (a consortium of Fujitsu and Logical/CMG), for the provision of the majority of its IT services and support. Total spending by the Department on IT in the following years was £15 million in 1999–2000, £30 million in 2000–01, £32 million in 2001–02 and £41 million in 2002–03. Spend for 2003–04 is forecast at £45 million. The equivalent figure is not readily available for 1997–98.
	These figures do not include payments made to suppliers of IT services not covered by the PFI contract referred to since they are not available from a central source.

Local Government Finance (Dorset)

Jim Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what grants were awarded to local authorities in Dorset by her Department in financial year 2003–04 that fall outside the revenue support grant.

Jacqui Smith: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Member for Greenwich and Woolwich (Mr. Raynsford) on 1 March 2004, Official Report, column 750W.

Miners' Compensation Claims

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many examiners who worked for both the Coal Board or the Coal Authority and small private mines have valid chronic bronchitis and emphysema claims outstanding; how many claims have received part payments; and if she will make a statement on progress of negotiations with small mine insurers in respect of the Court Handling Agreement.

Jacqui Smith: The number of outstanding COPD claimants who have worked for both BCC and a small mine is 2,164. The number of outstanding COPD claimants who have worked for BCC and a small mine and have received an interim payment is 453.
	Following a three-way mediation exercise held in January, at which much progress was made, a further day of negotiation between the parties was organised on 23 February. This meeting proved successful and an agreement was reached which allowed the small mines to join the claims handling agreement.
	Steps are now being taken with the Department's claims handlers to make arrangements for full and final offers to be made to this group of claimants.

Nigerian Contracts

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to her answer of 30 January 2004, Official Report, column 591W, on Nigeria, if she will provide a breakdown of Nigeria's debt to the Export Credits Guarantee Department, broken down by sector; and if she will list the top five contracts by value on which these debts are based.

Mike O'Brien: I refer the hon. Member to my official reply to his question on 30 January 2004, Official Report, column 591W. For the reasons stated earlier in that answer and the way in which records were kept in the 1980s, it is not possible to provide a breakdown of Nigerian debt according to trade sector without incurring disproportionate cost.

Nirex

Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations her Department has made to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on the future structure of Nirex.

Stephen Timms: There have been a number of discussions between departments and with others affected on this subject, and these discussions are continuing.

Nirex

Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions her Department has had with the Environment Agency on the possibility of their responsibility for the Letter of Comfort process operated by Nirex.

Stephen Timms: Disclosure of this information—internal advice and discussion—is covered by exemption 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information between Government departments and it has not been the practice of successive Governments to disclose exchanges of this nature.
	Discussions are continuing to resolve a number of issues about the future of Nirex.

Nuclear Fuel

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the Government's policy is on the commercial reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel in the UK.

Stephen Timms: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for South Down (Mr. McGrady) on 11 September 2003, Official Report, column 385W.

Renewable Energy

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the outcome of the renewables innovation review.

Stephen Timms: The Renewables Innovation Review, which was conducted jointly by the DTI and the Carbon Trust, considers the way ahead for the renewables industry if the UK's renewable energy targets, carbon reduction aspirations and desired economic benefits are to be met.
	The key conclusions of the Review, and the series of reports commissioned as part of the Review, are available on the DTI website at: http://www.dti.gov.uk/energy/renewables/policy/renewables innovation review.sht1

Renewable Energy

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps she is undertaking to reinforce the National Grid in (a) the UK and (b) London to meet the Government's target of 10 per cent. renewable generation by 2010.

Stephen Timms: The Transmission Issues Working Group works with the Transmission Owners, the Scottish Executive, the Welsh Assembly Government, and Ofgem to progress this important issue. An initial plan was published last year and the Transmission Companies are currently revising their technical and financial plans. (a) The first upgrade required in the UK is the Beauly to Denny line that Scottish and Southern intends to submit into the consents process this autumn. (b) It is unlikely that significant transmission grid upgrades will be required in London as most renewables will be connected to the distribution network but a full report which will include this issue is due to be presented to the Transmission Issues Working Group by the end of July.

Sakhalin II

Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what account she will take of the potential impact on (a) saffron cod and (b) herring populations when assessing the Sakhalin II phase 2 oil and gas project under consideration for support by the Export Credits and Guarantee Department.

Mike O'Brien: Both saffron cod and herring will be considered as part of the overall assessment of potential impacts on fishing resulting from the Sakhalin II project.

Sakhalin II

Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions have been undertaken with other Departments on the Sakhalin II phase 2 oil and gas project which the Export Credit Guarantee Department is considering.

Mike O'Brien: ECGD has consulted officials in DEFRA, DFID and FCO with regard to Sakhalin II.
	I have also consulted the Minister for Environment.

Scottish Electricity Generators

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on her Department's assessment of the overall cost of the British Electricity Transmission and Trading Arrangements for Scottish electricity generators.

Stephen Timms: BETTA is a package of reforms, elements of which are likely to result in higher costs for Scottish generators, whilst others are likely to reduce costs. In aggregate, however, Ofgem estimates that the net impact of BETTA on Scottish generators will be broadly neutral.
	This is because any increase in transmission charges will be offset by the removal of the current interconnector charges and charges for access to the England-Wales market. There will also be lower connection charges for Scottish generation.
	The DTI has carried out an analysis of the possible impact of BETTA as part of the Energy Bill Regulatory Impact Assessment www.dti.gov.uk/energy/leg and reg/acts/ria.pdf. This found that the relevant market participants—principally British Energy and the two vertically integrated incumbents, Scottish Power and SSE—would be exposed to initial costs of around £7.5 million and on-going costs of some £0.5 million per year, although this excludes the redistributive effects brought about by a Great Britain-wide transmission charging regime.

Westminster Hall

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make it her policy to have senior Ministers reply to debates in Westminster Hall.

Patricia Hewitt: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him by my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House on 8 March 2004, Official Report, column 1234W.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Housing Benefit

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his latest estimate is of the annual cost of (a) administering Housing Benefit and (b) Housing Benefit fraud; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Pond: The most recent available estimate of the annual cost of administering Housing Benefit is in the table:
	
		Housing Benefit administration costs in Great Britain 2001–02
		
			  £ million 
		
		
			 England 360 
			 Scotland 32 
			 Wales 15 
			 Total 407 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures are Net Current Expenditure.
	2. Amounts are rounded to the nearest million
	Source:
	Figures for England provided by Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.
	Scotland figures provided by the Scottish Executive.
	Wales figures provided by the Welsh Assembly.
	For Housing Benefit Fraud, we published "Fraud and Error in Housing Benefit, April 2002 to March 2003" on 11 December 2003. This report represents the first national headline estimates, for the level of fraud and error in Housing Benefit, derived via the statistical analysis of data collected by the Housing Benefit Review (HBR) continuous measurement exercise. Copies of the reports are available in the Library.

Housing Benefit

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the proposal to give local authorities the ability to withhold payment of housing benefits to tenants as a method of controlling anti-social behaviour.

Chris Pond: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave the hon. Member for New Forest, West (Mr. Swayne) on 9 February 2004, Official Report, column 1105.

Housing Benefit

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what progress has been made since the formal consultation about ground rents and the referral of rent to local rent officers under the proposed changes to housing benefit.

Chris Pond: The first step in our reform of Housing Benefit has been the introduction from November 2003 of a flat rate Local Housing Allowance in the private rented sector in nine pathfinder local authorities; with flat rate allowances for same size properties in the same area. Early indications are that the shift away from making payments direct to landlords is going well.
	In the pathfinders, Housing Benefit is no longer linked to individual rents, so there is no need for individual rents to be referred to the local rent officer. The local rent service will however continue to support the local authorities by calculating monthly Local Housing Allowance rates and setting the Broad Rental Market Areas.
	We have also put a comprehensive evaluation strategy in place. This will include interviews with claimants, landlords, local authority staff and stakeholder organisations, as well as an analysis of administrative data.

Housing Benefit

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of landlords in pathfinder areas who have stopped taking on housing benefit tenants.

Chris Pond: We are making good progress in applying our ground-breaking Local Housing Allowance to tenants with mainstream tenancies in the private rented sector. All the nine pathfinder local authorities, who are taking this forward for us, have begun to implement the reforms. We have made an encouraging start: implementation has been smooth and early indications are that the shift away from making payments direct to landlords is going well. Initial concerns from landlords have now been addressed to a large extent and we are not aware of any landlords withdrawing from the market.
	The reforms are intended to help landlords, as well as tenants, by creating a more transparent system that will be simpler for local authorities to administer, thereby speeding up overall processing times. Also, the safeguards we have built in regarding direct payment to landlords in particular circumstances are designed to protect the interests of both landlord and tenant.
	It is too early to fully assess the response of tenants and landlords, but we have put a comprehensive evaluation strategy in place.

Child Support Agency

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to bring older Child Support Agency cases into the new system for assessment.

Chris Pond: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave the hon. Member for Castle Point (Bob Spink) on 18 December 2003, Official Report, column 1092W.

Child Support Agency

Bill O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many payments of maintenance to parents with care have been delayed in the last six months because of the failure of the system in the issuing of maintenance payments; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Pond: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mr. Doug Smith. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	Letter from Doug Smith to Mr. Bill O'Brien dated 9 March 2004
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary question about the Child Support Agency the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many payments of maintenance to parents with care have been delayed in the last six months because of the failure of the system in the issuing of maintenance payments; and if he will make a statement.
	Between August 2003 and February 2004 the new computer system generated over 346,000 payments. In the same period 1,741 payments were issued manually. I do not have a record of how many of these payments represent a delay in the issue of maintenance

Departmental Estate

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether his Department plans to sell its premises in Beeches Road, Chelmsford; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Jobcentre Plus, David Anderson. He will write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from David Anderson to Mr. Simon Burns, dated 9 March 2004
	As Jobcentre Plus is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State has asked me to reply direct to your question concerning plans to sell off the Jobcentre Plus premises at Beeches Road, Chelmsford. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.
	In Essex, Jobcentre Plus consulted with partners and stakeholders during 2001 and 2002 and their views were taken into account in the final delivery plan that has now been put into place across this District.
	Jobcentre Plus has now been introduced to all the offices in Essex District, including Beeches Road, to deliver a radical change in the way that benefits and employment services are provided to people of working age. We have no current plans to vacate that office.
	Through the development of these new modern offices, we are providing an integrated, work-focused service to all people of working age. The introduction of work-focused interviews is extending the opportunity to more people who are taking advantage of the help, guidance and support we can provide to assist them to move into sustainable employment.
	In all our plans we have focused on the needs of our customers. The new offices offer customers a seamless service, where they are able to make enquires about their benefit entitlement, and the training and employment opportunities available to them, under one roof.
	In addition to these services Jobcentre Plus provides access to a telephone contact centre network where our customers are able to make enquiries without having to come into one of our offices. Our Beeches Road site offers both face to face and contact centre services.
	Jobcentre Plus keeps under constant review our Estates and operational delivery to customers. I hope it will reassure you to know that, at the present time, there are no plans to vacate the Beeches Road premises.

Skilled Migrants

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many skilled migrants were working in (a) the NHS and (b) the education sector on the last date for which figures are available.

Ruth Kelly: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Mark Simmonds, dated 9 March 2004
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about skilled migrant workers in the NHS and in the Education sector. (157584)
	The attached table gives the available information from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) for the three month period ending in November 2003. "Migrant" workers have been identified from the survey as those people working in the UK whose nationality is not British. The surveys does not analyse data specifically according to "skills", but for this purpose "skills" have been represented in terms of a person's highest qualification.
	As with any statistical sample survey, estimates for the LFS are subject to sampling variability.
	
		Non-British nationals of working age(7) working in the NHS and the Education sector, by highest qualification held 3 month period ending November 2003 -- Thousand
		
			  Health authority or NHS trust Education Sector(8) 
		
		
			 Highest qualification   
			 Degree or equivalent 41 23 
			 Higher education 35 * 
			 GCE A Level or equivalent * * 
			 GCSE grades A-C or equivalent * * 
			 Other qualifications 36 10 
			 No qualification * * 
		
	
	(7) Applies to all men aged 16–64 and women 16–59.
	(8) This includes University, Polytechnic or other grant funded educational establishments.
	* Sample size too small for reliable estimate.
	Source:
	ONS—Labour Force Survey.

Social Fund

Andrew Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will provide additional assistance to those families on low incomes who receive a Social Fund (a) grant and (b) loan where the amount awarded is insufficient to cover basic household goods.

Chris Pond: pursuant to his reply, 11 February 2004, Official Report, c. 1492W
	Community Care Grants, Crisis Loans and Budgeting Loans are part of the Discretionary Social Fund. They are designed to provide extra help for the most vulnerable people in society, helping them meet unexpected and more routine needs. The Discretionary Social Fund net budget will be increased by 6 per cent. in April 2004 and by a further 6 per cent. in April 2005.
	As the Discretionary Social Fund is cash limited and decision makers may not always be able to award the full amount that a person has asked for; however they will always consider individual circumstances when making an award.
	If a person believes that the grant or loan is not sufficient to meet their needs they have the right to ask for the decision to be reviewed, first by their local office and, if they disagree with the outcome, the Independent Review Service. There are no current plans to change this procedure.

PRIME MINISTER

Correspondence

Llew Smith: To ask the Prime Minister whether he authorised the letter faxed to the right hon. Member for Birmingham, Ladywood (Clare Short) on 28 February by the Cabinet Secretary.

Tony Blair: As the Cabinet Secretary, Sir Andrew Turnbull, informed the Public Administration Select Committee on Thursday 4 March, the letter was initiated by him. I was aware of it and approved of it being sent.

Intelligence Services

Peter Bradley: To ask the Prime Minister whether he received representations (a) in the run-up to and (b) during the war in Iraq from the then Secretary of State for International Development in which she raised concerns about the alleged activities of the United Kingdom's intelligence services at the UN.

Tony Blair: It has been the practice of successive Governments not to comment on intelligence matters.

Iraq

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Prime Minister if he will release to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration the full advice of the Attorney General on the legality of the war with Iraq; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: In evidence to the Public Administration Select Committee on 4 March, the Cabinet Secretary made clear that discussions with the Parliamentary Ombudsman are continuing as part of the normal process of handling these cases. The Government believe that the Attorney-General's advice on the legality of the military action against Iraq is covered by exemptions 2 and 4 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Iraq

Llew Smith: To ask the Prime Minister which members of the Cabinet were provided with a copy of the Attorney-General's full opinion on the legality of military action against Iraq in March 2003.

Tony Blair: It is established practice not to disclose details of internal discussion and advice or details of the circulation of papers to the Cabinet in line with exemption 2 of Part 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Iraq

Llew Smith: To ask the Prime Minister what representations were made by UK Government (a) ministers, (b) agencies and (c) Departments to (i) Dr. David Kay and (ii) the Iraq Survey Group (A) before and (B) during the preparation of its first draft report.

Tony Blair: The UK has a number of civilian and military personnel attached to the Iraq Survey Group who are part of the process in investigating Iraq's weapons of mass destruction programmes. As part of this process, some would have contributed to the drafting of Dr. Kay's interim report on the work of the Iraq Survey Group.

Nuclear Weapons

Llew Smith: To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to the reply to the hon. Member for Hampstead and Highgate (Glenda Jackson) of 10 February 2004, Official Report, column 1346W, what provisions of international law cover the use of nuclear weapons.

Tony Blair: The legality of the use of nuclear weapons depends upon the application of the general rules of international law, including those regulating the inherent right of self-defence and the conduct of hostilities.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Afghanistan

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department is taking to improve access to human intelligence for (a) British and (b) NATO forces operating in Afghanistan; and when he expects a human intelligence capacity to be available to British armed forces in Afghanistan.

Jack Straw: It is the well-established and long-standing practice of successive Governments not to comment on operations of the Intelligence Services. The security and intelligence agencies are outside the scope of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information (Paragraph 6, Part 1).

Afghanistan

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the (a) Afghans and (b) foreign nationals being held by the Coalition at Bagram airbase; and how long he expects they will be held.

Jack Straw: holding answer 8 March 2004
	The British Government do not have detailed information about non-British detainees at Bagram. No British citizens are currently being held at Bagram and none of the detainees held there was captured by British forces. The International Committee of the Red Cross has been able to assess conditions at Bagram since 22 January 2002.

Burma

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the value is of Burmese assets frozen by the UK under EU sanctions; what the nature of those assets is; and where they are held.

Mike O'Brien: The value of Burmese assets currently frozen by the UK under the EU Common Position is £3,573.57. The assets frozen are personal bank accounts of three individuals listed in the Annex to the Common Position, which is available on the website of the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma: http://www.ncgub.net/Int'l%20Action/EU/EU%20Commission%20regulation%2023%20 December%202003.pdf.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of militia violence in the Katanga province of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Chris Mullin: Recent reports of militia violence in the Katanga province of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) relate to a number of attacks by a renegade militia group since the beginning of this year. The UN Mission in the DRC is in the process of investigating. We deplore all violence against innocent civilians.

Departmental Communications

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many staff are employed in the Department to work in the communications field, broken down by (a) Government Information and Communication Service staff and (b) other staff, broken down by (i) press officers, (ii) special advisers and (iii) others.

Mike O'Brien: External communications is the responsibility of the Press Office in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO). There are 28 staff in the Press Office, comprising of six General Information and Communication Service (GICS) press officers, 11 non-GICS press officers and 11 support staff.
	Each of our overseas Posts also has a capacity to deal with local press and communications issues, commensurate with the size of the post and media interest.
	There are seven GICS officers working outside the Press Office.
	For details of the special advisers employed by the FCO, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Laws) on 23 January 2003, Official Report, column 469W.

Departmental Communications

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the total expenditure on communications for the Department has been in 2003–04, broken down by expenditure on (a) Government Information and Communications Service staff and (b) other staff, broken down by (i) press officers.(ii) special advisers and (iii) others.

Mike O'Brien: External communications is the responsibility of the Press Office of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO). We anticipate the staff costs for 2003/04 will be as follows: GICS Press Officers £259,573, non GICS Press Officers £478,780, support staff £331,453, giving a total cost for the year of £1,069,806. There are further UK based, GICS staff, working outside of the Press Office and their cost for 2003–04 is anticipated to be £278,343. The total pay of special advisers for the year 2003–04 is anticipated to be £188,324. Costs comprise salary, employer's national insurance contributions and employers pension contributions.
	Our overseas posts have a capacity to deal with local press and communications issues, commensurate with the size of the post and media interest, however these costs could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	The FCO is also the sponsoring Department for the BBC World Service, whose costs for the 10 months to 31 January 2004 are £177,859,730.

Iraq

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 26 February 2004, Official Report, column 482W, on Iraq, when the British embassy received the Note Verbale from the Mexican Government; and whether the UK Government has replied.

Bill Rammell: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Walthamstow (Mr. Gerrard) on 2 March 2004, Official Report, column 743.

Iraq

David Chidgey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many contracts, of what total financial value, have been awarded for reconstruction projects in Iraq, broken down by nationality of company awarded a contract.

Mike O'Brien: The US administration has allocated $18.6 billion for the reconstruction process in Iraq. Because of the large number of different organisations involved and the fact that many are involved in partnerships with American, Iraqi and other companies, it has not been possible to maintain an overall picture of the total volume of contracts awarded on the basis of nationality, and the cumulative value of these contracts. There is no central organisation that collects, collates and publishes such information. However, British companies are active in the power, water, banking, ports, construction, telecoms, security, legal services and consultancy sectors.

Iraq

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the circumstances surrounding the recent replacement of the Coalition Provisional Authority Governorate Co-ordinator for Dhi Qar province in Iraq.

Bill Rammell: holding answer 8 March 2004
	John Bourne served as the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) Governorate Co-ordinator for Dhi Qar province from early September 2003 to 27 February 2004. It was never intended that he should remain until the dissolution of the CPA. He served with distinction in the face of considerable difficulties, particularly after the attack on the Italian Carabinieri in Nassariya. His Italian replacement, Barbara Contini, has already been working in the CPA's Regional Office in Basra, and comes with strong experience of post-conflict reconstruction in the Balkans.

Iraq

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the effect of the interim constitution adopted by the Interim Governing Council in Iraq on the rights of women.

Bill Rammell: The Transitional Administrative Law (TAL) signed on 8 March 2004 includes clear provisions for the protection of women's rights. It enshrines the fundamental rights of all Iraqis. It strictly prohibits discrimination based upon gender. The TAL also stipulates an electoral system designed to ensure that no less than one-quarter of representatives in the National Assembly are women.

Iraq

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the current status is of the decision taken by the governing council in Iraq to repeal existing family laws and make family law subject to Sharia.

Bill Rammell: Governing Council Resolution 137 on family law has been withdrawn by the Governing Council. It has no legal status.

Kolay

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  what inquiries he has made about the (a) fate and (b) whereabouts of the 500 villagers from Kolay and two nearby villages who were in hiding following clashes between forces from the State Peace and Development Council and the Karen National Union on 17 and 18 January;
	(2)  what representations he has made to the Government of Burma about the action of the State Peace and Development Council in forcibly relocating all Karenni villagers north and south of the Mawchi-Taungoo road to Mahutahlayu near Pasaungi in December 2003.

Mike O'Brien: We have made no direct inquiries or representations on these issues. I do not have access to information to make accurate and reliable assessments of these matters. Travel restrictions imposed by the State Peace and Development Council on diplomats prevent local investigation or inquiries and make it difficult to independently verify such allegations.

Nepal

David Rendel: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what advice his Department gives to British travellers to Nepal on the Government's policy towards (a) the Government of Nepal and (b) Maoist rebels against the Government of Nepal.

Mike O'Brien: Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) travel advice does not contain statements of Government policy towards a particular country. FCO Travel Advice is available on the FCO website www.fco.gov.uk or it can be obtained by calling 0870 606 0290.
	The FCO produces Travel Advice on 217 countries, including Nepal, which aims to ensure that British travellers are well prepared before their departure. This travel advice takes account of the on-going conflict between the government of Nepal and the Maoist insurgents.

Nepal

David Rendel: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what statements have been made by his Department on the Government's policy on the Maoist rebellion in Nepal in the last two years.

Mike O'Brien: I refer the hon. Member to my statement in the House on Nepal on 19 June 2002, Official Report, columns 114–17WH, and to the statement I made at the Nepal International Support meeting in Nepal on 11 October 2002, a copy of which I will place in the Library of the House. On 22 October 2003 I released a press statement in relation to the British Gurkha Nepal team temporarily abducted by Maoist forces. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary released a press statement on 28 August 2003 about the breakdown of the cease-fire in Nepal. Copies of both press statements are available on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website: www.fco.gov.uk/policy/news/press-releases.

Overseas Bribery and Corruption

Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what procedures his Department employs for validation of reports on bribery and corruption overseas were received from involved in this procedure; and what criteria are employed for such validation.

Denis MacShane: Reports on bribery and corruption overseas, received from diplomatic posts, are usually handled by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's Economic Policy Department. These reports are examined to see if any further information is necessary on the nature of the allegation and supporting evidence.
	Provided there is sufficient detail for an initial analysis, a report is sent to the National Criminal Intelligence Service.
	Other Government Departments may also be made aware of these reports.

Sierra Leone

Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the progress of repatriation of Sierra Leone refugees from Liberia.

Chris Mullin: On 2 March the UN High Commission for Refugees restarted its repatriation programme for Sierra Leone refugees in Liberia. The first repatriations are proceeding smoothly. The programme is scheduled to last 17 weeks and aims to repatriate 14,000 of the 38,000 remaining refugees, 13,000 of whom are in refugee camps.

Sudan

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the situation in Darfur in Sudan.

Chris Mullin: The situation in Darfur remains very serious. We are particularly concerned by reported attacks on civilians and are appealing to all parties to ensure protection of the civilian population. Although access to some areas is improving, the ability of humanitarian agencies to assist vulnerable populations remains limited. The Department for International Development has contributed over £6 million in response to the crisis in Darfur and is seconding three humanitarian affairs officers to the UN to work in Darfur for three months.
	We are urging all parties to re-establish a ceasefire, permit humanitarian access to those in need, and resume talks. To this end we have lobbied at the highest levels in Khartoum, and are in almost daily contact with the Government of Sudan and the Darfur groups. The EU issued a statement expressing its serious concern on 25 February.

UK Mission (Bugging)

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the bugging of the UK Mission in the Justus Lipsius Council of Ministers building in 2003.

Denis MacShane: Since 14 April 2003, Official Report, column 530W, when I replied to the hon. Member for Sutton and Cheam (Mr. Burstow), the Belgian authorities, on the approval of the Council of Ministers, have taken over the Council Secretariat's investigation into the discovery of a number of devices in the Justus Lipsius Council of Ministers building last year. We are co-operating closely with the authorities. The bugging operation remains a matter of serious concern.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

ACAS

Mike Hancock: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether each agency in the Department has disciplinary procedures which comply with (a) the ACAS handbook on discipline and grievances at work and (b) the ACAS Code of Practice on disciplinary and grievance procedures.

Yvette Cooper: Yes. In common with practice throughout the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, each agency has disciplinary procedures that comply with the ACAS Handbook and the ACAS Code of Practice on Disciplinary and Grievance Procedure.

Arms-Length Management Organisations

John Mann: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the legal liability is of the shareholders of arms-length management organisations if their ALMO goes bankrupt.

Keith Hill: The normal principles of company and company insolvency law apply to Arms Length Management Organisations (ALMOs). ALMOs are normally set up by local authorities as companies limited by guarantee. The local authority would not normally have any legal liability if an ALMO became insolvent, but each case will turn on its own facts. The authority would, however, remain statutorily responsible for providing and managing the housing stock.

Departmental Minutes

Peter Lilley: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether it is the Department's policy to make notes of (a) meetings and (b) telephone conversations involving Ministers; and under what circumstances no notes would be taken.

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister follows the central "Guidance on the Management of Private Office Papers" which makes clear that good record management procedures are necessary not least to ensure accountability and provide an audit trail. Among the records covered by the guidance are Ministers' meetings and telephone conversations.

Employment Tribunals

Mike Hancock: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much money has been spent on (a) settling and (b) contesting claims in the Department registered at employment tribunals for (i) race discrimination, (ii) sex discrimination, (iii) disability discrimination, (iv) unfair dismissal and (v) equal pay since 1 January 2003.

Yvette Cooper: During the period in question, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has settled one Employment Tribunal case on terms that involved the payment of financial compensation. All other cases brought against the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister were either withdrawn by the applicants, or settled on terms that did not involve payment.
	The exception was one case in category (i)—race relations—in which damages of £6,324.16 were paid.
	The amounts expended in contesting applications made to Employment Tribunals are as set out as follows. The figures represent the costs of instructing Treasury Solicitor and of disbursements on fees to Counsel and other expenses. They include the case referred to above, as well as cases where The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has settled without payment of compensation, cases that have been successfully defended, cases that have been withdrawn and on-going expenses of cases that are still being contested.
	Since 1 January 2003 the amount of money spent on contesting claims at employment tribunals in the categories listed are as follows:
	(i) race discrimination—£15,655.64
	(ii) sex discrimination—£634
	(iii) disability discrimination—£23,856.85
	(iv) unfair dismissal—£14,004.96
	(v) equal pay—£138,566.94.

Homelessness

Oona King: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of Best Value Performance Indicator 183 as an indicator of the quality of service offered by local authority homeless services in areas of high demand; and whether BVPI 183 reflects (a) a local authority's current and historic performance and (b) the length of time homeless families with children in areas of high demand are required to spend in bed and breakfast or hostel accommodation;
	(2)  if he will list the respondents to the consultation on Best Value Performance Indicator (a) X8, the number of individuals sleeping rough and (b) X9, the number of homeless families with children placed in temporary accommodation; if he will place copies of the responses in the Library; and when he expects to make a decision on their introduction.

Yvette Cooper: While no assessment has been made which focuses specifically on Best Value Performance Indicator (BVPI) 183's effectiveness in areas of high demand, the BVPI does form part of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's monitoring of all local authorities' provision of homelessness services. The BVPI provides useful information on the average length of time families with children spend in temporary accommodation with shared facilities. BVPI 183 was introduced in 2002–03. From 2004–05, it is proposed that this BVPI will be complemented by two other homelessness indicators, which will record the number of individuals sleeping rough (BVX8) and the number of homeless families with children placed in temporary accommodation (BVX9).
	Consultation on the introduction of the two additional Homelessness Best Value Performance Indicators closed on 6 February. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister received 75 responses. A list of the respondents is as follows.
	An Order was laid before Parliament on 4 March which will enable the two additional Homelessness Best Value Performance Indicators to come into force from 1 April. I will arrange for copies of the responses to the consultation paper to be made available in the Libraries of the House in due course.
	Respondents to the consultation on BVX8 and BVX9:
	Association of London Government
	Barnardo's
	Barnsley metropolitan borough council
	Basingstoke and Deane borough council
	Bassettlaw district council
	Bradford metropolitan district council
	Breckland district council
	Brentwood borough council
	Brighton and Hove city council
	Bristol city council
	Broadway
	Burnley borough council
	Bury metropolitan borough council
	Chartered Institute of Housing
	Cherwell district council
	Chester city council
	Corporation of London
	Cotswold district council
	Darlington borough council
	Doncaster metropolitan borough council
	Dudley metropolitan borough council
	East Dorset district council
	East Northamptonshire district council
	Eastbourne borough council
	Gateshead metropolitan borough council
	Gedling borough council
	Greater London Association
	Groundswell UK
	Halton borough council
	Hambleton district council
	Hastings borough council
	Homeless Link
	Horsham district council
	Local Government Association
	London borough of Hammersmith and Fulham
	London borough of Haringey
	London borough of Harrow
	London borough of Hillingdon
	London borough of Lambeth
	London borough of Merton
	London borough of Newham
	London borough of Redbridge (Officer Response)
	London borough of Walthamstow
	London borough of Wandsworth
	London borough of Westminster
	Lincoln city council
	Liverpool city council
	Manchester city council
	Mid Beds district council
	National Audit Office
	Mid Sussex district council
	North Hertfordshire district council
	Penwith district council
	Portsmouth city council
	Royal borough of Kensington and Chelsea
	Redcar and Cleveland borough council
	Restormel borough council
	Rochdale metropolitan borough council
	Rotherham metropolitan borough council
	Rushmoor borough council
	Ryedale district council
	Salford city council
	Sandwell metropolitan borough council
	Selby district council
	Sheffield city council
	Shelter
	Shepway district council
	South Bedfordshire district council
	South Holland district council
	South Oxfordshire district council
	Stratford on Avon district council
	Stroud district council
	Sunderland city council
	Tonbridge and Mailing borough council
	Uttlesford district council
	Warwick district council
	West Somerset district council
	Wychavon district council

Local Authorities (Members' Allowances)

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will amend the Local Authorities (Members' Allowances) (England) Regulations 2003 to allow co-opted councillors to claim allowances; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Raynsford: Co-opted members of principal councils are already entitled to receive a co-optees allowance and a travel and subsistence allowance.
	Co-opted members of parishes are not currently entitled to receive allowances. However, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister intends to amend the regulations governing councillors' allowances shortly so that all parish councillors are eligible to receive an allowance for travel and subsistence.
	At present, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does not plan to allow un-elected parish councillors to receive a basic allowance and will reassess this position, as part of the wider review of councillors' allowances, later this year.

Local Authorities (Members' Allowances)

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what representations he has received on the Local Authorities (Members' Allowances) Regulations (England) 2003; what plans he has to alter the regulations in respect of non-elected councillors; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Raynsford: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has received a number of letters from MPs in recent weeks on behalf of their parish councils in respect of non-elected parish councillors.
	Co-opted members of parishes are not currently entitled to receive allowances. However, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister intends to amend the regulations governing councillors' allowances shortly so that all parish councillors are eligible to receive an allowance for travel and subsistence.
	At present, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does not plan to allow un-elected parish councillors to receive a basic allowance and will reassess this position, as part of the wider review of councillors' allowances, later this year.

Local Authorities (Members' Allowances)

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to change the regulations whereby co-opted parish councillors are not entitled to the same pay and allowances as elected parish councillors.

Nick Raynsford: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister intends to amend the regulations governing councillors' allowances shortly so that all parish councillors are eligible to receive an allowance for travel and subsistence.
	At present, however, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does not plan to allow un-elected parish councillors to receive a basic allowance. We will reassess this position, as part of the wider review of councillors' allowances, later this year.

Local Government

John Stanley: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what figure for the rate of inflation was used by the Minister for Local Government in his statement on 16 January that each local authority would receive at least an above inflation increase in grant for 2004–05.

Nick Raynsford: The latest estimate of inflation available on 16 January was the Retail Price Index—all items excluding Mortgage Interest Payments (RPIX) for November 2003 at 2.5 per cent.
	Every local authority in England with responsibility for education and social services received at least a 4 per cent. increase in formula grant on a like-for-like basis in 2004–05; every shire district received at least a 3 per cent. increase; every fire authority received at least a 3½ per cent. increase; and every police authority received at least a 3¼ per cent. increase.

Local Government Pension Scheme

Mark Todd: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what progress has been made on the reform of the Local Government Pension Scheme; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Hope: A phased programme of regulatory and policy reform of the Local Government Pension Scheme was announced on 23 July 2003. This takes forward the Government's proposals on the future of occupational pension schemes set out in the White Paper "Simplicity security and choice (CMS835)" and some initial findings from the on-going Stocktake of the Scheme. Following consultation, new regulations will take effect on 1 April. These will be followed by a statutory consultation exercise on further scheme amendments, which in part deal with proposals to increase the normal retirement age. These amendments are intended to take effect from April 2005. For the longer term, proposals to ensure the sustainability of the Scheme will be circulated to stakeholders in England and Wales later in the year.

Planning Guidance

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister which planning guidance notes are to be replaced with Planning Policy Statements; and what the timetable is.

Keith Hill: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has gone out to public consultation on revisions to PPG1 (General Policies and Principles), PPG3 (Housing), PPG6 (Town Centres), PPG7 (Countryside), PPG 11 (Regional Planning), PPG12 (Development Plans), PPG 22 (Renewable Energy) and PPG23 (Planning and Pollution) with a view to re-issuing these during 2004 as Planning Policy Statements (PPS). It is anticipated that consultation will begin in the first half of 2004 on revisions to PPG4 (Economic Development), PPG9 (Nature Conservation/ Biodiversity) and PPG10 (Planning and Waste Management).
	The timetable for the review of other PPGs is being considered in the light of the recommendation in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister Select Committee's report on the Annual Report 2003 that we should withdraw our stated intention to revise the less controversial PPGs. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister aims to make an announcement on this by the end of March.

Roma

James Paice: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the impact on Cambridgeshire of migration by the Roma Community of Eastern Europe after enlargement of the EU on 1 May;
	(2)  what guidance he is issuing to local authorities regarding inward migration of the Roma community of Eastern Europe after enlargement of the EU on 1 May.

Beverley Hughes: holding answers 26 January 2004
	I have been asked to reply.
	It is not possible to produce a reliable estimate of numbers of people from the accession countries, whether or not they are members of the Roma community, who may travel to Cambridgeshire. There is no information available upon which such an estimate could be based. However guidance will be made available to local housing authorities regarding proposed changes to the rules on eligibility for benefits that they administer, and on eligibility for social housing and homelessness assistance, to which my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary referred in his Statement to the House on EU Accession on 23 February.

Severe Weather

Simon Hughes: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what guidelines he has issued to local authorities on dealing with the effects of severe weather.

Douglas Alexander: I have been asked to reply.
	Cabinet Office has produced guidance—Dealing with Disaster—on the principles of emergency planning to assist local authorities in their preparation for, and response to, a range of major incidents, including those resulting from the effects of severe weather.
	Within this framework, local authorities work closely with relevant Government Departments and organisations to ensure that robust and effective plans are in place. For example, local authorities, where necessary, will liaise regularly with flood defence managers at the Environment Agency to maintain flood defence plans.
	The guidance is available in the Libraries of the House and at www.ukresilience.gov.uk.

Statutory Sick Pay

Paul Goodman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many people employed in his Department have claimed statutory sick pay for (a) less than one week, (b) one to three weeks, (c) four to six weeks, (d) seven to 12 weeks, (e) 13 to 20 weeks and (f) 21 to 28 weeks in each year since 1997.

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was established following Machinery of Government changes in May 2002. The first complete year for which we have data on staff sick absence rates for staff in our HQ is January-December 2003. During this period the number of people taking sick leave was as follows:
	
		
			 Number of days Number taking sick leave 
		
		
			  
			  
			 (a) 4–7 411 
			 (b) 8–21 204 
			 (c) 22–42 53 
			 (d) 43–72 31 
			 (e) 73–140 22 
			 (f) 141–196 4 
		
	
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is committed to managing sick absence effectively.

HEALTH

B Streptococcal Screening

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the costs and benefits of group B Streptococcal screening.

Stephen Ladyman: The National Institute for Clinical Excellence recently published a Clinical Guideline on Routine Antenatal Care, which recommends that pregnant women should not be offered routine antenatal screening for group B streptococcus (GBS), because evidence that it will do more good than harm is uncertain.
	The UK National Screening Committee is currently reviewing the prevention of GBS infection in newborn babies. As part of its work programme, it has asked the National Co-ordinating Centre for Health Technology Assessment to commission research in this area and detailed proposals are being developed.

Dentistry

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS dental practices have gone private in the last year; and if he will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: The number of dental practices going totally private is very small as most dentists continue with some national health service work. The Office of Fair Trading report "The private dentistry market in the UK", published in March 2003, states that only 210 practices are totally private in the UK out of 11,000 practices in total.
	Between August 2002 and August 2003 the total number of dental practices in the General Dental Service, Personal Dental Service or Salaried Dental Services increased by 44.

Dentistry

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS orthodontists accepted new NHS patients in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: Information is not available in the form requested. Information on which dentists currently accept new national health service patients is continually updated and available on the NHS website at www.nhs.uk. However, this does not identify those dentists who do orthodontic work within the general dental service.
	The number of dentists making 100 or more appliance claims for payments for orthodontic appliances, together with dentists in personal dental service orthodontic pilots, is available from the Dental Practice Board. These data are shown in the table for the period since 1997–98.
	
		Number of dentists with 100 or more appliance claims or in orthodontic pilots in England
		
			  Number(9) 
		
		
			 1997–98 448 
			 1998–99 482 
			 1999–2000 490 
			 2000–01 532 
			 2001–02 565 
			 2002–03 591 
		
	
	(9) General dental service dentists with 100 or more appliance claims during the year and personal dental service dentists in orthodontic pilots at September.

Dentistry

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of NHS dentists were (a) male and (b) female in (i) each NHS region, (ii) each strategic health authority and (iii) England in each year since 1990.

Rosie Winterton: The available information is shown in the tables. This is for the proportion of male and female national health service dentists for each NHS region, each strategic health authority and England at September in each of the years 1996 to 2002 in table 1. For the years 1991 to 1995, information is available for England only and is in table 2.
	NHS dentists cover dentists working in the general dental service (GDS), hospital dental service (HDS), community dental service (CDS), and personal dental service (PDS). Excluded are the small numbers of salaried dentists. Dentists are counted on a headcount basis and so no account is taken for part-time working in the NHS.
	Dentists working in more than one dental service are included in each service, apart from dentists working in both PDS and GDS who are counted in the GDS only.
	Information for 2003 is not yet available.
	
		Table 1: National health service: Proportion of dentists in England by sex in each region and strategic health authorityat September each year
		
			  1996 1997 1998 1999 
			  Male Female Male Female Male Female Male Female 
		
		
			 England 0.70 0.30 0.69 0.31 0.69 0.31 0.68 0.32 
			 NHS Region 
			 Northern and Yorkshire 0.70 0.30 0.69 0.31 0.69 0.31 0.67 0.33 
			 Trent 0.73 0.27 0.72 0.28 0.71 0.29 0.70 0.30 
			 West Midlands 0.71 0.29 0.71 0.29 0.70 0.30 0.70 0.30 
			 North West 0.70 0.30 0.70 0.30 0.68 0.32 0.68 0.32 
			 Eastern 0.72 0.28 0.70 0.30 0.70 0.30 0.70 0.30 
			 London 0.69 0.31 0.68 0.32 0.65 0.35 0.66 0.34 
			 South East 0.68 0.32 0.67 0.33 0.67 0.33 0.66 0.34 
			 South and West 0.72 0.28 0.71 0.29 0.71 0.29 0.70 0.30 
			 Strategic Health Authority 
			 Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire 0.70 0.30 0.68 0.32 0.67 0.33 0.67 0.33 
			 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire 0.72 0.28 0.72 0.28 0.71 0.29 0.71 0.29 
			 Birmingham and The Black Country 0.71 0.29 0.72 0.28 0.72 0.28 0.71 0.29 
			 Cheshire and Merseyside 0.69 0.31 0.68 0.32 0.66 0.34 0.67 0.33 
			 County Durham and Tees Valley 0.68 0.32 0.67 0.33 0.66 0.34 0.65 0.35 
			 Cov., Warks, Herefordshire and Worcs 0.68 0:32 0.67 0.33 0.68 0.32 0.68 0.32 
			 Cumbria and Lancashire 0.69 0.31 0.68 0.32 0.66 0.34 0.65 0.35 
			 Dorset and Somerset 0.77 0.23 0.75 0.25 0.75 0.25 0.74 0.26 
			 Essex 0.74 0.26 0.72 0.28 0.70 0.30 0.71 0.29 
			 Greater Manchester 0.72 0.28 0.72 0.28 0.70 0.30 0.70 0.30 
			 Hampshire and Isle of Wight 0.68 0.32 0.67 0.33 0.67 0.33 0.66 0.34 
			 Kent and Medway 0.67 0.33 0.66 0.34 0.68 0.32 0.67 0.33 
			 Leics, Northants and Rutland 0.73 0.27 0.72 0.28 0.72 0.28 0.71 0.29 
			 Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire 0.71 0.29 0.69 0.31 0.69 0.31 0.69 0.31 
			 North and East Yorkshire and North Lincs. 0.75 0.25 0.75 0.25 0.73 0.27 0.73 0.27 
			 North Central London 0.67 0.33 0.67 0.33 0.68 0.32 0.65 0.35 
			 North East London 0.73 0.27 0.72 0.28 0.72 0.28 0.70 0.30 
			 North West London 0.70 0.30 0.69 0.31 0.67 0.33 0.67 0.33 
			 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear 0.70 0.30 0.69 0.31 0.69 0.31 0.67 0.33 
			 Shropshire and Staffordshire 0.72 0.28 0.72 0.28 0.71 0.29 0.70 0.30 
			 South East London 0.68 0.32 0.67 0.33 0.65 0.35 0.64 0.36 
			 South West London 0.66 0.34 0.66 0.34 0.63 0.37 0.64 0.36 
			 South West Peninsula 0.73 0.27 0.74 0.26 0.72 0.28 0.73 0.27 
			 South Yorkshire 0.71 0.29 0.70 0.30 0.71 0.29 0.71 0.29 
			 Surrey and Sussex 0.69 0.31 0.69 0.31 0.69 0.31 0.68 0.32 
			 Thames Valley 0.65 0.35 0.65 0.35 0.64 0.36 0.63 0.37 
			 Trent 0.72 0.28 0.72 0.28 0.70 0.30 0.69 0.31 
			 West Yorkshire 0.68 0.32 0.68 0.32 0.69 0.31 0.67 0.33 
		
	
	
		
			2000   2001   2002 
			  Male Female Male Female Male Female 
		
		
			 England 0.67 0.33 0.66 0.34 0.66 0.34 
			 NHS Region   
			 Northern and Yorkshire 0.67 0.33 0.66 0.34 — — 
			 Trent 0.69 0.31 0.69 0.31 — — 
			 West Midlands 0.68 0.32 0.66 0.34 — — 
			 Northwest 0.67 0.33 0.66 0.34 — — 
			 Eastern 0.70 0.30 0.69 0.31 — — 
			 London 0.65 0.35 0.64 0.36 — — 
			 South East 0.65 0.35 0.65 0.35 — — 
			 South and West 0.69 0.31 0.69 0.31 — — 
			 Strategic Health Authority   
			 Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire 0.66 0.34 0.65 0.35 0.64 0.36 
			 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire 0.71 0.29 0.69 0.31 0.68 0.32 
			 Birmingham and The Black Country 0.69 0.31 0,68 0.32 0.67 0.33 
			 Cheshire and Merseyside 0.65 0.35 0.64 0.36 0.64 0.36 
			 County Durham and Tees Valley 0.64 0.36 0.63 0.37 0.65 0.35 
			 Cov., Warks, Herefordshire and Worcs. 0.65 0.35 0.64 0.36 0.63 0.37 
			 Cumbria and Lancashire 0.66 0.34 0.65 0.35 0.65 0.35 
			 Dorset and Somerset 0.73 0.27 0.72 0.28 0.71 0.29 
			 Essex 0.72 0.28 0.71 0.29 0.70 0.30 
			 Greater Manchester 0.68 0.32 0.68 0.32 0.66 0.34 
			 Hampshire and Isle of Wight 0.64 0.36 0.65 0.35 0.64 0.36 
			 Kent and Medway 0.68 0.32 0.67 0.33 0.66 0.34 
			 Leics., Northants and Rutland 0.73 0.27 0.72 0.28 0.72 0.28 
			 Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire 0.69 0.31 0.68 0.32 0.66 0.34 
			 North and East Yorkshire and North Lincs. 0.71 0.29 0.70 0.30 0.69 0.31 
			 North Central London 0.65 0.35 0.62 0.38 0.62 0.38 
			 North East London 0.68 0.32 0.66 0.34 0.66 0.34 
			 North West London 0.68 0.32 0.66 0.34 0.66 0.34 
			 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear 0.66 0.34 0.66 0.34 0.66 0.34 
			 Shropshire and Staffordshire 0.69 0.31 0.66 0.34 0.66 0.34 
			 South East London 0.64 0.36 0.63 0.37 0.62 0.38 
			 South West London 0.62 0.38 0.61 0.39 0.60 0.40 
			 South West Peninsula 0.72 0.28 0.72 0.28 0.72 0.28 
			 South Yorkshire 0.70 0.30 0.69 0.31 0.68 0.32 
			 Surrey and Sussex 0.67 0.33 0.65 0.35 0.65 0.35 
			 Thames Valley 0.61 0.39 0.61 0.39 0.59 0.41 
			 Trent 0.67 0.33 0.67 0.33 0.65 0.35 
			 West Yorkshire 0.68 0.32 0.66 0.34 0.63 0.37 
		
	
	
		Table 2: National health service: Proportion of dentists in England by sex at September each year
		
			  England 
			  Male Female 
		
		
			 1991 0.74 0.26 
			 1992 0.73 0.27 
			 1993 0.72 0.28 
			 1994 0.72 0.28 
			 1995 0.71 0.29

Departmental Staff

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer of 10 December 2003, Official Report, column 502W, on departmental staff, what information his Department collates on the functions undertaken by staff in each business group.

Rosie Winterton: In summary, the work of Departmental staff in the three business groups includes:
	Delivery—staff responsible for supporting delivery of targets set out in the NHS Plan. These include helping reduce waiting times, increasing choice for National Health Service patients, securing resources for NHS and local government organisations, ensuring the NHS has the capacity to deliver and integrating NHS information technology systems to deliver modernised patient services.
	Standards and Quality—staff responsible for the majority of our policy-making responsibilities, ranging from scientific developments and medical innovations, such as stem cell research, to lifestyle issues, such as obesity. Staff set standards and define quality in health and social care services, maintain and promote health and well being, ensure safety of patients and users and deliver key programmes, such as cancer.
	Strategy and Business Development—staff responsible for important corporate services, such as communications, corporate human resources and information services, ensuring the Department is run effectively and efficiently. They also lead important programmes and policies, such as system reform, equality, medicine and pharmacy, user experience and involvement and professional leadership.

Diabetes

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department has taken to (a) scope, (b) commission and (c) disseminate research into the early detection of diabetes.

Rosie Winterton: The National Screening Committee will, advise the Department by 2005 on the most effective policy for screening for Type 2 diabetes. It is generally accepted that screening of the whole population for Type 2 diabetes would not be cost-effective given the low prevalence of undiagnosed disease. However there is emerging evidence to suggest that it may be clinically and cost effective to offer screening to specific sub-groups of the population who are at high risk for diabetes. The Department and the National Screening Committee have commissioned research to define high-risk individuals and to evaluate pilot screening projects in primary care. The results of this research will be available to inform the advice of the National Screening Committee.

Eye/Dental Check-ups

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the cost of implementing a policy for free (a) eye and (b) dental check-ups for all NHS patients.

Rosie Winterton: Sight tests under national health service arrangements are already available to certain priority groups. These include, children, those aged 16–18 in full-time education, people on low incomes and defined categories of people at particular risk of developing eye disease. In April 1999 we extended sight tests to all people aged 60 and over.
	Based on the most recent data available of the number of private sight tests, the cost of extending NHS sight tests to this group, at the 2002–03 rate of £16.72, would be an additional £80 million for England. The total cost would be increased if the change stimulated demand for more eye examinations. Costs could also be affected if the change in the scope of the NHS service was associated with any review of the sight test fee payable to optometrists.
	About a quarter of dental examinations carried out on adults in the general dental service (GDS) involve patients who are exempt from charges or who qualify for a reduced charge.
	If dental examinations were made free to all adults in England, patient charge revenue would be reduced by around £85 million per annum.

Fall-Related Injuries

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost of falls in people aged over 60 was to (a) the NHS and (b) personal social services in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: The actual cost of falls to the national health service and to personal social services is not recorded centrally. Hip fractures are the most common serious injury resulting from falls in older people. The national service framework for older people estimated the cost to the NHS of hip fractures at around £1.7 billion per annum for England.

Fires (Care Homes)

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many fires have occurred in care homes for the elderly (a) in total in England and (b) broken down by local authority in each year since 1997.

Nick Raynsford: I have been asked to reply.
	The number of fires in care homes for the elderly attended by the Fire and Rescue Service in England since 1997 are as follows:
	
		Fires(10) , (11) in care homes for elderly people by Fire and Rescue Authority area, 1997–2002
		
			 Fire and Rescue Service area 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002(12) 
		
		
			 England 935 940 1,041 851 738 780 
			 Avon 12 10 13 12 38 27 
			 Bedfordshire 9 12 1 0 4 10 
			 Berkshire 15 9 35 16 30 21 
			 Buckinghamshire 26 70 61 30 22 10 
			 Cambridgeshire 0 16 0 10 1 11 
			 Cheshire 36 38 10 22 29 30 
			 Cleveland 15 18 10 21 10 6 
			 Cornwall 16 13 25 15 15 0 
			 Cumbria 5 15 25 20 14 14 
			 Derbyshire 19 5 16 11 11 11 
			 Devon 33 37 34 40 16 20 
			 Dorset 6 0 4 6 9 11 
			 Durham 10 13 12 13 4 4 
			 East Sussex 5 14 13 5 6 26 
			 Essex 13 13 18 11 10 24 
			 Gloucestershire 13 8 0 9 6 5 
			 Hampshire 10 6 6 20 0 6 
			 Hereford and Worcester 28 34 30 21 20 13 
			 Hertfordshire 75 66 75 24 13 25 
			 Humberside 15 15 16 7 6 12 
			 Isle of Wight 0 5 4 1 1 0 
			 Kent 56 30 36 21 5 21 
			 Lancashire 23 14 41 24 12 30 
			 Leicestershire 4 13 0 22 12 15 
			 Lincolnshire 1 11 7 13 12 17 
			 Norfolk 6 0 3 10 9 4 
			 North Yorkshire 1 1 9 13 27 12 
			 Northamptonshire 54 35 64 18 30 10 
			 Northumberland 14 6 15 17 11 10 
			 Nottinghamshire 10 15 3 8 14 9 
			 Oxfordshire 6 0 16 0 4 13 
			 Shropshire 6 6 13 4 5 6 
			 Somerset 0 5 5 10 6 17 
			 Staffordshire 18 25 34 29 16 7 
			 Suffolk 1 2 28 10 4 5 
			 Surrey 5 19 20 30 6 9 
			 Warwickshire 17 5 7 4 5 18 
			 West Sussex 0 10 15 5 15 15 
			 Wiltshire 29 18 12 18 14 18 
			 Greater Manchester 34 43 69 32 57 51 
			 Merseyside 23 15 27 23 7 12 
			 South Yorkshire 15 16 8 23 24 12 
			 Tyne and Wear 47 31 39 47 43 48 
			 West Midlands 108 101 94 76 71 63 
			 West Yorkshire 19 31 12 26 19 25 
			 London 75 68 56 58 43 49 
		
	
	(10) Including late call and heat and smoke damage incidents.
	(11) Figures are based on sampled data weighted to agreed FRA totals.
	(12) Excludes strike days in November 2002.
	Source:
	Fire and Rescue Authority returns to ODPM.

Mental Health

John Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on the progress made on the NHS plan target to recruit 700 carers workers;
	(2)  whether the 700 carers workers promised in the NHS plan will be additional to existing staff in NHS trusts.

Rosie Winterton: The commitment to recruit 700 carer support workers to by 2004 to increase the breaks available for carers, and to strengthen carer support networks is part of the "Priorities and Planning Framework 2003–06" which identified the targets set for services in the three year period.
	Recruitment is a local responsibility therefore we cannot say whether the 700 carer support workers will all be additional to existing national health service staff. Guidance on developing carer support services was published in 2002.

Mental Health

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer of 2 February 2004, Official Report, column 688W, on mental health, whether the (a) 27 early intervention teams and (b) 132 crisis resolution teams conform to an early intervention model; what quality standards have been put in place for them; and if he will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: Detailed service specifications for crisis resolution and early intervention teams are contained in the "Mental Health Policy Implementation Guide" (2001), which is available in the Library.
	A full analysis of the teams currently in operation against the criteria set out in the "Mental Health Policy Implementation Guide" is available from the Durham adult mental health services mapping database at http://www.dur.ac.uk/service.mapping/amh, which is regularly updated to reflect changes in team attributes.
	Local services are supported and managed by strategic health authorities to develop local delivery plans to meet NHS Plan targets.

Pulmonary Disease

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what resources have been allocated to implement the National Institute for Clinical Excellence guidelines for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; and how implementation will be monitored.

Stephen Ladyman: Funding to implement the guidance and recommendations of the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) is not separately identified in primary care trust (PCT) allocations. The national health service is currently receiving the largest sustained increase in funding in its history, so the question of affordability of NICE recommendations should not be an issue. The total of PCT allocations is £45 billion for 2003–04, £49.3 billion for 2004–05 and £53.9 billion for 2005–06. This represents an increase of £12.7 billion, or an average of 30.8 per cent. over the three years 2003–04 to 2005–06.
	The Commission for Healthcare Audit and Inspection will inspect against healthcare standards. The Health Care Standards were published on 10 February 2004 and are now out for consultation. NICE guidance features at two places within the standards. Within the "core" standards (under "clinical and cost effectiveness"), NICE appraisals are included; and under the "developmental" standards, NICE clinical guidelines are shown. The developmental standards are aspirational and for the NHS to implement over a longer period of time.

Whitehaven Care Home

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures are being taken by the National Care Standards Commission following the inspection of the Whitehaven Care Home For Adults in Felpham, Bognor Regis on the 11 and 12 of November 2003.

Stephen Ladyman: This is a matter for the National Care Standards Commission (NCSC). I understand that the NCSC has monitored the requirements made of the service provider during its inspection of November 2003. It is satisfied with the action plan which the provider has drawn up to address the shortfalls identified in the inspection. The NCSC will continue to keep closely in touch with the service provider and monitor the situation to ensure that compliance with Regulations and national minimum standards is achieved and that there is no risk to the people living at Whitehaven.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Anti-social Behaviour

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the impact of anti-social behaviour orders in (a) reducing the frequency and seriousness of crimes by children and young people and (b) reassuring communities; and what plans he has to publish his findings.

Hazel Blears: Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) are intended to address anti-social behaviour. In Home Office research study 236, January 2002 'A review of anti-social behaviour orders', Siobhan Campbell carried out some research into ASBOs shortly after they had been introduced. Campbell found that few areas managed to monitor ASBOs successfully, but just over one third of a sample of 40 individuals given ASBOs were known to have breached their order. Fewer (30 per cent.) had committed further offences during that time. In only four cases had the individual been taken to court for both breach and a further offence.
	Campbell also found that there was anecdotal evidence to suggest that ASBOs had been successful. The Home Office has not carried out further research to assess the impact of ASBOs in (a) reducing the frequency and seriousness of crimes by children and young people and (b) reassuring communities.

Asylum Seekers

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many detainees have been resident at the Oakington Immigration Reception Centre for longer than (a) seven and (b) 10 days during the course of 2003.

Beverley Hughes: Information on the length of time detainees were resident at the Oakington Reception Centre and on all detainees held during 2003 is not available, except by examination of individual case-files at disproportionate cost.

Buses (Vandalism)

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many incidents of vandalism to buses were reported in each police force area in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Hazel Blears: This information is not collected centrally.

Cannabis

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he asked the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs to assess the research carried out by Professor Robin Murray of the Institute of Psychiatry on the causal link between cannabis and schizophrenia.

Caroline Flint: The Home Secretary has not asked the Advisory Council on the Misuse of drugs (ACMD) to formally assess research carried out by Professor Robin Murray. Much of the research carried out by Professor Robin Murray was known to the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) at the time it was producing its report on cannabis. The ACMD felt the research did not conclusively prove a causal link between cannabis and schizophrenia. The ACMD feel any new evidence produced since its cannabis report does not affect the overall weight of evidence or their conclusions that cannabis while still harmful, is less harmful than other drugs in Class B.

Cannabis

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  for what reasons evaluaton of the 2004 cannabis advertising campaign is only being conducted among 14 to 17-year-olds;
	(2)  which agencies bid for the 2004 cannabis advertising campaign.

Caroline Flint: It is important to focus our evaluation of the 2004 cannabis advertising campaign on 14 to 17-year-olds because they represent the priority audience for the Government in our overall aim to reduce drug misuse among young people. It is particularly important that under 18s understand the law because they will be arrested if found in possession of cannabis.
	The agency 'Mother', which is the Home Office's incumbant agency for the drugs education campaign, FRANK, was retained for the reclassification of the cannabis campaign aimed at persons under 18. They had participated in a full competitive pitch through the COI's roster of preferred providers and had been awarded a contract in October 2002.
	The joint Home Office Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) advertising campaign aimed at adults was commissioned through ACPO and was based on proposals they had developed with their own agency.

Child Trafficking

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the Government's strategy to (a) prevent child trafficking and (b) provide protection and support to the victims of child trafficking.

Beverley Hughes: The Government is committed to combating child trafficking, both in the UK and in source countries. I have recently established an informal ministerial group to improve further the Government's response to the trafficking of both adults and children.
	The Department for International Development and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office raise awareness of trafficking in source and transit countries through bilateral and multilateral development programmes. These have included training for agencies working with victims of trafficking and work to raise awareness of trafficking.
	Since 2000, all operational activity targeted against organised immigration crime, including people trafficking, has been co-ordinated through the multi-agency task force Reflex.
	Led by the National Crime Squad (NCS), Reflex brings together all the key agencies, including the Immigration Service, the National Criminal Intelligence Service and key police forces. Reflex aims to build up the intelligence picture, co-ordinate operations and provide a focal point for the operational response to human trafficking and smuggling.
	The Reflex strategy is, in part, based on seeking to disrupt activity as close to the source as possible. The development of an international network of Immigration Liaison Officers in countries that are considered to contain key nexus points for transit to the UK has been a key component of the Reflex strategy. Projects in source countries to prevent trafficking include working with law enforcement and government agencies to identify and disrupt trafficking networks and routes.
	In addition, the UK is contributing to the EU five year funding programme AGIS which will fund projects to promote police and judicial co-operation on combating organised crime.
	The Sexual Offences Act 2003 sets out wide-ranging offences covering trafficking for sexual exploitation with a maximum sentence of 14 years imprisonment. A new offence covering trafficking for non-sexual purposes, such as forced labour or removal of organs, is included in the Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants, etc.) Bill which is currently before Parliament, however, we have also tabled amendments in the House of Commons to ensue that the Bill gives adequate protection to victims of child slavery.
	The Immigration Service has started specialist child interviewing training for around 600 operational members of staff nation-wide which will help identify child victims of trafficking as they arrive in the UK.
	The Government has also published a best practice toolkit, available at www.crimereduction.gov.uk/toolkits, as a guide for professionals who are likely to come into contact with victims of trafficking. This includes specific sections on children and young people.
	The Government is committed to providing appropriate support to victims of trafficking. Child victims of trafficking are likely to be in need of welfare services. Under the Children Act 1989 local authorities have a duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children who are in need, by providing a range and level of services appropriate to those needs or arranging for their provision by other agencies. Assistance and support should therefore be provided by local statutory services in response to identified needs, whether directly or though specialist agencies.
	The Green Paper Every Child Matters highlighted tackling child trafficking as a key challenge for children's services. It also sets out new arrangements to join up services at the local level to strengthen child protection.

Coroners

Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance coroners are given on being sensitive to the families of the deceased in cases where an inquest many be necessary and on doing all that is reasonably practicable to meet the acute needs of the bereaved.

Paul Goggins: All those involved in the coroner and death certification system are expected to approach bereaved families and friends of the deceased in a sensitive manner. The Fundamental Review of Death Certification and Coroner Services, and the Shipman Inquiry both (laid before Parliament last year) recommended a more involved role for the family of the deceased. The Home Secretary and I are considering the recommendations set out in these and other reports and are deciding on a programme of reform which will include proposals to make the system more sensitive to the needs of the bereaved. We plan to publish a position paper shortly.

Corruption

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on (a) investigations and (b) prosecutions of individuals and companies for the offence of bribery of a foreign public official by the Metropolitan Police under (i) UK corruption laws and (ii) the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001.

Paul Goggins: I am informed that the Metropolitan Police is currently investigating two allegations of bribery of a foreign public official. The Metropolitan Police is not responsible for the prosecution of offences.
	There have been no prosecutions for the offence of bribery of a foreign public official since the enactment of part 12 of the ATCS Act which allows for extra-territorial jurisdiction over crimes of corruption committed abroad by UK nationals and incorporated bodies. The Home Office does not keep specific statistics on prosecutions of bribery of a foreign public official within the UK, although there is one reported case (R v. Raud 1989).

Corruption

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the (a) the UK Central Authority, (b) the National Criminal Intelligence Service and (c) the Metropolitan Police have received a request from the (i) French authorities, (ii) US authorities and (iii) Nigerian authorities for assistance into investigations of allegations involving payments by the consortium TSKJ in connection with the Bonny Island liquified natural gas plant in Nigeria.

Caroline Flint: It is the Home Office's practice to treat letters of request for assistance in criminal matters from foreign governments confidentially, as communications between two countries. We are normally therefore unable to confirm or deny that we have received a request.
	However, the United Kingdom remains committed to assisting its international partners in the fight against corruption and bribery wherever possible.

Disorder Penalties (Merseyside)

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions Merseyside police have issued penalty notices for disorder to 16 to 17-year-olds.

Hazel Blears: The penalty notice for disorder scheme is in the process of being rolled out to all police forces in England and Wales. It is expected to be in place nationally by 1 April. Merseyside police commenced issuing penalty notices for disorder with effect from 1 March. Data are not yet available on penalty notices issued.

Dog Theft

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what steps he is taking (a) to establish the extent of the problem of stolen dogs and (b) to co-ordinate a national strategy for dealing with the problem;
	(2)  what discussions his Department has had with (a) the police and (b) other countries concerning dog theft ;
	(3)  what plans he has to introduce a national dog register;
	(4)  what representations he has received concerning dog theft; and if he will make a statement;
	(5)  what steps he intends to take to ensure that instances of dog theft are properly investigated by the police;
	(6)  if he will introduce a time threshold after which a dog reported as being missing will be classified by police as stolen;
	(7)  if he will make it his policy to introduce passports for dogs travelling out of Britain to counter the problem of stolen dogs.

Hazel Blears: There is no national strategy to counter dog theft. Where this emerges as a pressing local crime issue, it would be for the police, in consultation with the Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership, to take appropriate action. Statistics on the kidnapping of dogs are not held centrally.

Driving Disqualification

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many individuals in Greater London were disqualified from driving in each of the last 10 years.

Caroline Flint: Available information up to 2001, which has been taken from the Home Office Court Proceedings Database is given in the table. Information for 2002 will be available early in the spring.
	
		Number of persons disqualified(13)from driving at all courts for motoring offences, within Greater London 1992–2001
		
			 Year Persons disqualified 
		
		
			 1992 20,900 
			 1993 26,400 
			 1993 30,000 
			 1995 17,100 
			 1996 26,800 
			 1997 26,300 
			 1998 23,100 
			 1999 21,100 
			 2000 19,800 
			 2001 20,900 
		
	
	(13) Includes persons disqualified under s. 35 of the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988 (penalty points system).

Driving Standards

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) endorsements and (b) disqualifications were registered by the Driver Vehicle Licensing Agency against holders of GB driving licences in each of the last five years.

Caroline Flint: holding answer 8 March 2004
	Information is not collected centrally on the number of endorsements and disqualifications issued against GB driving licence holders.
	Available data, given in the tables, shows the number of fixed penalty notices issued for endorsable offences and the number of offences where endorsements without disqualifications and total disqualifications were imposed at all courts within England and Wales from 1997 to 2001.
	
		Table A: Driving licence endorsements by type of action, England and Wales, 1997–2001 -- Number of offences
		
			  Type of action 
			  Fixed penalty notices: issued for endorsable offences Court proceedings (all courts): endorsements without disqualifications 
		
		
			 1997 841,055 623,205 
			 1998 902,640 622,734 
			 1999 937,719 637,487 
			 2000 (14)1,101,490 626,317 
			 2001 1,341,564 599,879 
		
	
	(14) Revised since publication of HOSB.
	
		Table B: Driving licence disqualifications imposed at all courts, England and Wales, 1997–2001
		
			  Number of offences where total disqualifications imposed Persons disqualified under s.35 of the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988 (penalty point system) 
		
		
			 1997 161,267 31,120 
			 1998 157,963 23,865 
			 1999 156,099 34,210 
			 2000 153,293 33,554 
			 2001 165,044 30,079

Drug Testing (Schools)

Glenda Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the change in de-toxification and rehabilitation places which random drug testing in schools will require.

Caroline Flint: De-toxification and rehabilitation are appropriate only for those with established drug-dependency, which is very rare in young people of school age. It is therefore unlikely that random drug testing in schools will have a significant impact on demand for de-toxification and rehabilitation services.

Drug Testing (Schools)

Glenda Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether random drug testing in schools requires the agreement of (a) local and (b) community police officers.

Caroline Flint: It will be for individual schools to decide upon the scope of drug testing, if any, and to decision what action to take if there has been a breach of school drug policy or of the law. Random drug testing in schools does not require the agreement of the police.
	Information is available through Drugs: Guidance for Schools, which is being sent to schools on 9 March.

Drunk Driving

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many drivers were found to be in excess of the legal alcohol limit in each year since 1997.

Caroline Flint: Available information from 1997 to 2001 on the number of drivers who have been found to be in excess of the legal alcohol limit is given in the table. Statistics collected centrally do not distinguish between positive and refused tests.
	Information for 2002 will be available in the Spring.
	
		Number of positive or refused breath tests, 1997–2001: England and Wales -- Numbers
		
			  Number of positive or refused 
		
		
			 1997 103,500 
			 1998 102,300 
			 1999 94,100 
			 2000 94,600 
			 2001 99,500

Eastern European Immigrants

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what tests he will use to determine whether immigrants from Eastern European countries are eligible for immediate access to (a) benefits, (b) NHS treatment and (c) education following accession to the EU in May.

Beverley Hughes: As a result of the measures we announced on 23 February, nationals of the accession states (other than Cyprus and Malta) will be eligible for income-related benefits only if they have worked lawfully in the UK for a continuous period of 12 months. This restriction will apply for two years and may be extended. Those in work on a low income will be entitled to the normal work-related benefits.
	From 1 May EU-wide reciprocal health rules will apply to the accession states. Temporary visitors from these states can access immediately necessary treatment but their home state will have to pay the bill. There will be no automatic entitlement to free treatment for pre-existing conditions unless the home country authorises and pays for that care.
	Anyone who is deemed to be "ordinarily resident" in the UK, that is to say that they are living lawfully here for settled purposes, is entitled to receive free NHS care. People from accession states working here legally will therefore be entitled to the full range of NHS treatment free of charge along with all other residents.
	Nationals from the accession states will be eligible for education as are nationals of existing EU states.

Emergency Calls

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average police response time to (a) grade one emergency 999 calls and (b) other 999 calls is, broken down by region; and what steps his Department is taking to ensure the effective prioritisation of 999 calls.

Hazel Blears: This information is not collected centrally. Responsibility for prioritising calls and deciding the most appropriate time to respond to 999 calls lie with the chief officer in each police force area. However, the vast majority of forces are committed to attending to calls requiring an immediate response within 10 minutes for urban areas and 20 minutes for rural areas.

EU Enlargement (Health Staff)

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether (a) midwives and (b) nurses from (i) Poland and (ii) other EU accession states will be able to work in the United Kingdom after accession.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 27 February 2004
	Relevantly qualified midwives and nurses from Poland and other EU accession states will be able to work in the United Kingdom after accession.
	All nationals from Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Hungary, Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania who find work in the UK will be required to apply to register with the Home Office under the new 'Worker Registration Scheme' as soon as they find work.

Fines

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many on-the-spot fines were issued in each police authority area (a) in total and (b) per 10,000 population since their introduction, listed in descending order of number per 10,000 population.

Hazel Blears: Penalty notices for disorder were piloted in four police forces for a period of 12 months from August and September 2002. Five police forces were involved: the British Transport Police (in West Midlands area only), West Midlands and Essex Police (both forcewide), North Wales Police (initially in their Central Division and then forcewide from April 2003) and the Metropolitan Police (Croydon Division). During the pilots over 6,000 penalty notices were issued.
	An evaluation report is being compiled and will be published. The report will provide a detailed breakdown of the penalty notices issued during the pilots.
	The penalty notice for disorder schemes is currently being rolled out to all police forces in England and Wales and is due to be in place nationally by 1 April.

Gambling

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the change in the need for assessment and treatment of problem gambling among offenders consequent on the provisions of the draft Gambling Bill, with particular reference to young offenders.

Paul Goggins: No assessment has been made of any change in the need for assessment and treatment of problem gambling among offenders as a result of the provisions of the draft Gambling Bill.

Home Curfew

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offenders were placed on the Home Detention Curfew Scheme between January 1999 and 31 January 2004, broken down by (a) sex and (b) police authority.

Paul Goggins: Between January 1999 and 31 January 2004 there were around 78,600 males and 8,600 females placed on the Home Detention Curfew (HOC) Scheme.
	Information on numbers placed on the HDC Scheme by police authority is not available.

Illegal Immigrants

Julian Brazier: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many illegal immigrants were (a) detected attempting to enter the UK clandestinely and (b) detected later in the country in each of the past five years.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 20 January 2004
	The number of people against whom illegal entry action was initiated in each of the last five years for which information is available is shown in the table.
	
		Persons against whom illegal entry action was initiated 1998 to 2002
		
			  Number of persons 
		
		
			 1998 16,500 
			 1999 21,165 
			 2000 47,325 
			 2001 69,875 
			 2002(15) 48,050 
		
	
	(15) Provisional figures
	Illegal entry action is initiated against those people who are detected entering the country clandestinely or by means of deception, either verbal or documentary.
	Though the figures include those people who were identified as having entered the country clandestinely they are not separately identifiable, as such this information would only be available by examination of individual case-files at disproportionate cost.
	The figures show a high level of activity in 2001 compared to the preceding and following years. This was caused by the large increase in asylum seekers in 2001.
	Moreover, although numbers of people subject to illegal entry action fell by 31 per cent. in 2002 compared to 2001, the number of removals increased by 33 per cent. in the same period.
	This information and other statistics on the immigration and asylum system are published annually in the Command publication "Control of Immigration: Statistics United Kingdom" a copy of which is in the House Library and can be found on the Home Office website http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html

Illegal Immigrants

Peter Lilley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were detected trying to enter the UK illegally in 2002; how many of them subsequently claimed asylum; how many were returned before claiming asylum; and how many were removed after their asylum claim was rejected.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 4 February 2004
	Illegal entry action was initiated against 48,050 people in 2002. Illegal entry action is initiated against those people who are detected entering, or having entered the country clandestinely or by means of deception, either verbal or documentary.
	Information on the number of these persons who subsequently claimed asylum, is not available and would be so by the examination of individual case-files only at disproportionate cost. Measures in the Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants etc.) Bill will make it more difficult for those who only applied for asylum after being notified of an immigration decision to have a credible claim..
	This information and other statistics on the immigration and asylum system are published annually in the Command publication "Control of Immigration: Statistics United Kingdom", a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

Accession Treaty Nationals

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the United Kingdom's immigration policy in relation to applicant countries.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 12 February 2004
	Under the Accession Treaty nationals from the 10 new member states joining the EU on 1 May will have the right to travel freely across the European Union allowing them to visit, live and study in any other member state.
	The Treaty allows current member states to restrict freedom to work on eight of the 10 new member states for up to seven years from accession (Cyprus and Malta are exempt from the transition period).
	In line with my right hon. Friend, the Home Secretary's announcement to the House of Commons on Monday 23 February, the Government have decided to allow free movement to those who genuinely want to come and work here via a workers registration scheme. They will be required to be self-supporting while they look for work.
	From 1 May, nationals of the new member states will be able to enter the UK through the EU channel at ports of entry. They will be admitted to the UK on production of their national identity card or passport.
	Workers from Poland, Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia, Slovenia, Slovakia, Hungary and the Czech Republic will be required to register with the Home Office as soon as they find work.
	Once a national from one of these new member states has been lawfully working in the UK labour market for a continuous period of 12 months, they will gain full EU rights and will therefore no longer be subject to the workers registration scheme.
	The remaining candidate countries (Bulgaria and Romania) are expected to join the EU by 1 January 2007, subject to meeting the EU acquis criteria. Until the date of accession, nationals from these countries will remain subject to full immigration control.

Interception of Communications

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether operations by law enforcement agencies involving the bouncing of radio beams off window panes to secure the content of conversations taking place within the room require prior approval through a warrant under the Interception of Communications Act 1985; what controls there are on the use of such technology; whether he requires to be notified in advance of each use of such equipment; and if he will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: holding answer 5 March 2004
	The Interception of Communications Act 1985 has been repealed by the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA). Part II of RIPA provides for the authorisation of covert surveillance, including surveillance carried out in relation to anything taking place in residential premises by means of a surveillance device. Where the device is not present on the premises, directed surveillance may be authorised—unless the device consistently provides information of the same quality and detail as might be expected from a device actually present on the premises, in which case authorisation for intrusive surveillance should be granted.
	Deployment of any surveillance device by law enforcement agencies must be lawful and undertaken only after consideration of necessity and proportionality of that deployment. The Secretary of State is not required to be notified. Authorisation of both intrusive and directed surveillance by law enforcement agencies is subject to independent oversight by the Office of the Surveillance Commissioners.

Interception of Communications

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether access by law-enforcement agencies to conversations in a private place gained through the use of a person's mobile telephone as a transmitter constitutes an interception of communications requiring express authorisation by warrant.

Caroline Flint: holding answer 5 March 2004
	Part III of the Police Act 1997 and Part II of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA) provide for the authorisation of lawful interference with property and wireless telegraphy, and for the authorisation of intrusive surveillance respectively. Authorisation of such conduct by law enforcement agencies is subject to independent oversight by the Office of the Surveillance Commissioner. Part I of RIPA provides for the warranted interception of communications only in the course of their transmission by means of a public telecommunications system.

Munby Judgment

Hilton Dawson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to the Munby Judgment, when he will provide a separate escort service for young people sentenced to custody.

Paul Goggins: holding answer 11 February 2004
	Although Mr. Justice Munby referred briefly to evidence relating to the escort service, he did not make any ruling or give any opinion whether a separate escort service for juvenile offenders was needed.
	Escort services are provided by private companies under contract to the Prison Service (for those sent to Young Offender Institutions) and the Youth Justice Board (for those sent to secure training centres or local authority secure children's homes (LASCHs)). The secure training centre/LASCH escort service is exclusively for 12 to 17-year-olds. Those sent to Young Offender Institutions may be carried in vehicles with older offenders, but there are requirements in the contract to achieve separation from over-18-year-olds.
	A tender exercise is currently under way for the next round of Prison Service escort contracts, which are due to commence in August 2004. The Prison Service has asked bidders to include the provision of separate vehicles for juveniles as an option in their bids. Whether this option is pursued will depend upon consideration of the bids as a whole.
	Welfare clauses in the Prison Service escort contracts provide for those at risk. They emphasise the need for care and sensitivity with newly-remanded or -sentenced prisoners; and for recognition of religious and cultural needs and the needs of those with sensory impairment or disability or problems with communication. Handover procedures are designed to ensure that contractor's staff and other agencies communicate with each other about welfare issues. Operating procedures are kept under constant review; with a view to identifying and correcting weaknesses.

Police

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the guidelines are for dealing with 999 calls for the police; and what he sets as the expected response time.

Hazel Blears: There are no national guidelines for answering and responding to 999 calls. Responsibility for deciding the most appropriate time to answer and respond to 999 calls lies with the chief officer in each police force area. However, the vast majority of forces are committed to answering 999 calls within times ranging from five to 15 seconds and attending to calls requiring an immediate response within 10 minutes for urban areas and 20 minutes for rural areas.

Police

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answer of 23 February 2004, Official Report, column 243W, on police, how many accidents in the last two years in (a) London and (b) England and Wales resulted in the vehicle being written off; and at what cost.

Caroline Flint: Information is not collected centrally on the number and cost of police vehicle accidents that result in a vehicle being written off.

Policemen's Helmets

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations he has received on the design of policemen's helmets; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: The traditional police helmet is currently subject to investigation as to whether the design can be modified to provide a greater level of protection. Alternative headgear is necessary to ensure compliance with Health and Safety legislation and a prototype designed to meet operational requirements is being trialled in three police forces (Dyfed Powys, Greater Manchester and Wiltshire) from 1 March for a period of three months. If the design performs satisfactorily, it is proposed to widen the trial from May to a further two forces (Thames Valley and Dorset).
	The final design will be subject to approval by Ministers. It is not intended that it should replace the existing helmet, but will ensure that officers have appropriate headgear where specific risk assessment has shown it is necessary. It will be the responsibility of individual Chief Officers to decide when it is appropriate for the new headgear to be issued and worn.

Prison Lavatories

Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) male and (b) female prisoners do not have access to lavatory facilities and rely on slopping out.

Paul Goggins: All prisoners in normal location accommodation have access to sanitation either by means of integral sanitation, electric unlocking, manual unlocking or open access.

Prison Lavatories

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which prisons have sprinklers fitted in their residential areas.

Paul Goggins: holding answer 27 February 2004
	Only one prison (HMP The Weare) has sprinklers fitted in residential parts.
	HMP The Wear is a floating structure and as such subject to the Safety of Life at Sea Regulations, which require sprinklers to be fitted.

"Reducing Crime, Changing Lives"

Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to give the Probation Service a new name following the publication of the Carter Report.

Paul Goggins: The structure of the National Offender Management Service is yet to be finalised and no immediate changes to the Probation Service are planned.

"Reducing Crime, Changing Lives"

Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he received from Napo following the publication of the Carter Report.

Paul Goggins: We have received a response from the National Association of Probation Officers to the request made in the "Reducing Crime—Changing Lives" document for views from stakeholders.

"Reducing Crime, Changing Lives"

Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what reasons underlay his decision not to consult with Napo prior to publication of his response to the Carter Report.

Paul Goggins: Reducing Crime—Changing Lives sets out the Government's initial response to the Carter report.
	My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has sought and continues to seek views from stakeholders, including the National Association of Probation Officers, key on a number of issues relating to the effective management of offenders.

"Reducing Crime, Changing Lives"

Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the implications for future (a) employment status, (b) job security, (c) pay and conditions and (d) collective bargaining arrangements for the Probation Service following the publication of the Carter Report.

Paul Goggins: The structure of the National Offender Management Service is yet to be finalised and no immediate changes are planned. Any future changes to terms of service will be subject to the usual consultation arrangement with staff and unions. Once this is done, the Department will put in place appropriate mechanisms to allow collective bargaining to take place.

TETRA Masts

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with O2 Airwave on the effect on television reception in the vicinity of TETRA masts following their switching on in (a) Bognor Regis, (b) Chichester, (c) Littlehampton and (d) Worthing.

Hazel Blears: The Home Office has had no discussions with O2 Airwave on the potential effects of TETRA masts on TV reception. This is a matter for Ofcom, which is the regulatory authority on radio licensing and advises the public on interference problems.

Vehicle Cruise Events

Nigel Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what advice is issued by his Department to chief constables on policing vehicle cruise events.

Caroline Flint: I recognise the problems that vehicle cruise events can generate and welcome the consideration given to the issue last year by the Association of Chief Police Officers' (ACPO) Road Policing Operations Forum. The ACPO policy is now to:
	encourage forces to work on understanding the website community through which illegal cruising events are organised;
	apply robust public order tactics to constrain the activity of any illegal cruises, including via the arrest of attendees causing a public nuisance and the seizure of their vehicles;
	support pro-actively alternative functions organised in accordance with local authority requirements for a public event; and,
	meet organisers of illegal cruises who are keen to move their hobby into a legal arena.
	I am pleased that police forces are now adopting this policy. With effect from 1 January 2003, we have given police forces a power under the Police Reform Act to seize vehicles being driven either off-road without authority or on-road carelessly or inconsiderately, and in such a way as to cause alarm, distress or annoyance. We issued guidance at the time on this new provision, which a number of forces are using to tackle cruises.

Vehicle Cruise Events

Nigel Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will review the law relating to vehicle cruise events.

Caroline Flint: We believe the existing law is sufficient to deal with the problems to which vehicle cruise events give rise. We gave the police on 1 January 2003 new powers under section 59 of the Police Reform Act 2002 to seize vehicles being used anti-socially. I know that a number of forces have been successfully using these to deal with the problems caused by cruises.

Vehicle Cruise Events

Nigel Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance he has issued to police authorities on monitoring of vehicle cruise events advertised on the internet.

Caroline Flint: I am aware that there has over several years been a developing youth culture of attending vehicle cruises. The activity has over 200 websites dedicated to it in the UK. I support the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) policy to encourage forces to work on understanding the website community through which cruising events are organised.

Vulnerable Prisoners

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what lessons have been learnt from the internal inquiries into serious incidents of self-harm by prisoners on the prevention of recurrences.

Paul Goggins: Serious incidents of self-harm are investigated at senior managers' discretion to identify the cause and lessons to be learned. Preventing recurrence is tackled at the individual level through care plans and case reviews.
	In 2003, 30 in-depth interviews were carried out with prisoners who had survived a severe self-harm incident requiring resuscitation or treatment in outside hospital. The findings included: the importance of staff talking and listening to prisoners, proactive care for prisoners who feel unable to ask for help; increased in- cell and out-of cell 'distraction' activities; specialist support for prisoners with a history of abuse; flexible peer support; and reliable delivery of medication for mental health problems. This learning has informed a number of initiatives: quotes from the interviews in the development of Key Messages cards, posters and an information booklet for prison staff; the training of new prison officers; and development of the second phase suicide prevention strategy planned to be introduced soon.
	More accurate self-harm data recorded since December 2002 is enabling closer analysis of trends at local, area and national levels. A number of intervention strategies have been introduced into establishments for people who self-harm. These include counselling, support groups, and specialised psychological interventions. A network of establishments has been set up to develop interventions, facilitate evaluation and share good practice, and an information booklet for staff on working with prisoners who self-harm has been circulated to establishments. A guidance document for managing and caring for prisoners who self-harm is being prepared.

Work Permits

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many work permits were issued in each of the last five years.

Beverley Hughes: The number of work permits issued in each of the last five calendar years is given in the table.
	
		
			  Number issued 
		
		
			 1999 60,743 
			 2000 88,651 
			 2001 120,823 
			 2002 136,151 
			 2003 145,351

Young Offenders

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which bodies are used to provide education within young offenders institutions.

Paul Goggins: 28 contractors currency provide Learning and skills for young offenders, most of which are colleges of further education. Young Offenders also benefit from the involvement of a wide range of voluntary and community organisations in learning activities. Some of these, such as the Prisoners' Education Trust, provide financial support for distance learning. Others, such as the YMCA, Clean Break Theatre Company and Writers in Prison Network are directly involved in providing learning services.

Young Offenders

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the latest figure is of the cost per week of detaining a person in custody in a young offenders institution.

Paul Goggins: The average weekly cost of keeping someone in establishments categorised as young offender institutes during the financial year 2002–03 was £535.

Young Offenders

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average sentence served within young offenders institutions was in each year since 1997.

Paul Goggins: Table 3.14 of 'Prison Statistics England and Wales 2002' gives the average time served in prison under sentence by young offenders discharged from determinate sentences on completion of sentence or on licence, for the period 1997–2002. A copy of this publication is available in the House of Commons Library.

TREASURY

Asthma

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many deaths were caused by asthma in each year since 1 January 1996; and how many were caused by sudden onset attacks, broken down by (a) age, (b) sex and (c) health authority.

Ruth Kelly: holding answer 8 March 2004
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Cheryl Gillan dated 9 March 2004
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question concerning how many deaths were caused by asthma in each year since 1st January 1996; and how many were caused by sudden onset attacks, broken down by (a) age, (b) sex and (c) health authority.
	Numbers of total asthma deaths in England and Wales by sex and five-year age groups are published annually by the Office for National Statistics in the series "DH2, Mortality Statistics, Cause" The latest publication is for 2002 and copies of this, and earlier volumes, are in the Library of the House.
	Asthma deaths caused by sudden onset attacks cannot be separately identified.
	I am placing four tables in the House of Commons Library, showing the numbers of deaths from asthma in Strategic Health Authorities in England and for Wales since 1996.
	These tables respectively show the number of deaths for (a) men, (b) women, (c) persons aged under 65 and (d) persons aged 65 and over.

Census

Lorna Fitzsimons: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how the latest census was broken down by (a) ethnic origin, (b) age, (c) gender and (d) religion; how many constituents in the Rochdale constituency fall into each category (i) in absolute terms and (ii) as a percentage of the total population; and what plans he has to revise classification categories.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mrs. Lorna Fitzsimons, dated 9 March 2004
	As National Statistician and Registrar General for England and Wales I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how the latest census was broken down by (a) ethnic origin, (b) age, (c) gender and (d) religion; how many constituents in the Rochdale constituency fall into each category (i) in absolute terms and (ii) as a percentage of the total population; and what consideration he has given to revising existing classification categories. (157505)
	The classifications used in the 2001 Census output for ethnic origin, gender and religion are shown in the attached tables. Age ranges are presented in a variety of ways across the prospectus of Census outputs. For Parliamentary Constituencies, data are presented in quinary (five-yearly) age groups.
	The requested information for Rochdale Parliamentary constituency is published in the "Census 2001 Report for Parliamentary Constituencies", and its accompanying CD, which includes both national and constituency level tables. A copy of this report is available in the House of Commons Library and is on the National Statistics website at: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/census2001/cn 70.asp
	The National Statistics website also includes profiles of each local authority area from the 2001 Census. Further detail on the population profile of Rochdale local authority, including age and gender breakdowns, is available at: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/census2001/pyramids/pages/00bq.asp A more general profile of the Rochdale local authority area, including information on ethnicity and religion, is available at: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/census2001/profiles/00bq.asp
	Updated National Statistics guidelines on the measurement and collection of ethnicity data were published in January 2004 and are available on the National Statistics website at: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/about/ethnic group statistics
	These guidelines were produced after consultation with relevant government departments and other organisations, including the Home Office and the Commission for Race Equality. They reflect the need for a balance between the prime requirement for comparability with the 2001 Census while, at the same time, acknowledging the fact that classifications are never set in stone. In particular, the perceptions and descriptions of ethnicity are constantly evolving and it is important that the guidance is periodically reviewed to ensure that it reflects these shifts. The ethnic group question and classification will be reviewed in time for the 2011 Census. This process is likely to begin in 2005.
	Ethnic Group Classification
	White
	British
	Irish
	Other White
	Mixed
	White and Black Caribbean
	White and Black African
	White and Asian
	Other Mixed
	Asian or Asian British
	Indian
	Pakistani
	Bangladeshi
	Other Asian
	Black or Black British
	Caribbean
	African
	Other Black
	Chinese or other ethnic group
	Chinese
	Other Ethnic Group
	Religion Classification
	(People stating religion as:)
	Christian
	Buddhist
	Hindu
	Jewish
	Muslim
	Sikh
	Other religions
	No religion
	Religion not stated
	Gender Classification
	Males
	Females

Child Care Vouchers

Chris Ruane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps his Department has taken to publicise information on childcare vouchers to small and medium sized enterprises.

Dawn Primarolo: holding answer 5 March 2004
	The Inland Revenue will ensure that information and guidance to support the new tax exemption on child care vouchers is available to all employers before the changes are introduced in April 2005. Naturally, this will include all small and medium sized enterprises.
	And, of course, the Chancellor himself has publicised the exemption by writing to all MPs on 16 December last year, and including an information sheet for Members to pass on to businesses in their constituencies.

Child Tax Credit

Paul Goodman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost to his Department of administering (a) child care credit and (b) child tax credit was (i) in total and (ii) per claimant in the last year for which figures are available.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Havant (Mr. Willetts) on 28 April 2003, Official Report, column 161W. On 30 January 2004 there were £6 million families in total benefiting from tax credits.

Child Tax Credit

George Osborne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what the additional cost would be of raising the first threshold for those entitled to Child Tax Credit only for the year 2004–05 from £13,480 to £13,600;
	(2)  what the additional cost would be of raising the second income threshold for tax credits from £50,000 to £51,380;
	(3)  what the additional cost would be of raising the first income threshold for tax credits from £5,060 to £5,200;
	(4)  what the cost would be of raising the family element of the Child Tax Credit from £545 to £565 for 2004–05;
	(5)  what the cost would be of raising the family element of the Child Tax Credit to £1,130 for 2004–05.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Member to table 4 "Direct effects of illustrative tax changes" on the HM Treasury website at http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/media//AAB24/pbr03 trr.pdf
	The figures exclude any estimate of behavioural response to the tax credits changes.

Child Tax Credit

George Osborne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how much a family with a joint income before tax in 2004–05 of £52,000 will receive in child tax credit; and how much they would receive in child tax credit if the second income threshold was £51,380;
	(2)  how much a family with a joint income before tax of £14,000 in 2004 will receive in child tax credit; and how much they would receive if the first threshold for those entitled to child tax credit only was increased to £13,600;
	(3)  how much a family with a joint income before tax of £5,200 in 2004–05 will receive in tax credits; and how much they would receive if the first income threshold was £5,200.

Dawn Primarolo: The tax credit award a family receives depends on a variety of factors relating to their particular circumstances, not just their level of income.

Company Car Tax

Norman Baker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reason a liquefied petroleum gas-powered vehicle is classified as a luxury option within the P11D form under the company car tax regime; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: A liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) powered vehicle is not classified as a luxury option under the company car tax regime.

Competitive Tendering

John Mann: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of best practice in the use of competitive tendering by Government departments.

Paul Boateng: OGC is working with Departments to produce and update Best Practice and has provided extensive advice on the use of competitive tendering, in particular on evaluation using whole lifecycle cost approaches.

Council Tax

Roy Beggs: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will introduce a non-means-tested council tax and rates relief scheme for over 70-year-olds.

Paul Boateng: There are no plans to introduce a non-means-tested council tax relief and rates scheme for over 70-year-olds.

Debt Relief/Trade Justice

David Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has held with (a) churches and (b) church leaders on debt relief and the campaign for trade justice.

John Healey: On 16 February, Lord Carey and Lord Griffiths hosted a conference on "Making Globalisation Work For All: The Challenge of Delivering the Monterrey Consensus" at the Treasury. The Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Secretary of State for International Development were among the keynote speakers at the conference which was attended by a number of church leaders and faith groups.
	The conference brought together leaders from faith groups, NGOs, governments, businesses and universities to discuss how to make progress in meeting the Millennium Development Goals and eliminating global poverty. Debt relief and trade justice are central to improving growth and reducing poverty in developing countries, and the UK continues to call for the full implementation of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative and for a strengthened commitment to ensure that trade liberalisation delivers poverty reduction.
	The conference also focused on the need for extra resources to provide further debt relief, and for additional aid to improve the investment climate and help the private sector in developing countries respond to the new opportunities and challenges created by trade liberalisation. The UK's proposal for an International Finance Facility would provide the much-needed substantial increase in resources that debt relief alone would not achieve and that could be disbursed byway of grants and additional debt relief.

Departmental Buildings (Asbestos)

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of buildings occupied by (a) staff of the Department and (b) staff of the Department's executive agencies have been surveyed for the purpose of identifying the presence of asbestos prior to implementation of the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002.

Ruth Kelly: I refer the hon. gentleman to the answer given by my hon. friend the Economic Secretary to the Treasury on 10 June 2003, Official Report, column 745W.

Departmental Secondments

David Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many officials from his Department have been seconded in each of the last five years to work in less developed countries, broken down by country.

Ruth Kelly: According to our records, since 1999 the Treasury has seconded one official to work for the Azerbaijan Finance Ministry. As part of our interchange programme, our officials also go on loan to other Government Departments and may be posted to other countries.

Economic Activity (Lancashire)

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the economic activity rate in (a) Lancashire and (b) Chorley was in (i) 2002–03 and (ii) 1996–97.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Lindsay Hoyle dated 9 March 2004
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent parliamentary Question on economic activity rates in Lancashire and Chorley. (157691)
	The attached table shows the working age economic activity rates for Lancashire and the Chorley Local Authority District. The Chorley Parliamentary Constituency is identical to the Local Authority. The data cover the 12month period ending February 1997 and February 2002. Information for the 12 month period ending February 2003 is not yet available.
	As with any statistical sample survey, estimates for the Labour Force Survey are subject to sampling variability.
	
		Working age(16) economic activity rates(17) for Lancashire and the Chorley LAD12 month period ending February each year -- Percentage
		
			  
			  1996–97 2001–02 
		
		
			  
			  
			 Lancashire 78.5 76.8 
			 Chorley LAD 78.5 80.3 
		
	
	Source:ONS Labour Force Survey
	(16) Includes men aged 16–64 and women aged 16–59
	(17) Economic activity rate is the percentage of the working age population who are either in employment or unemployed

Emergency Protection Orders

Andrew Turner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for the Isle of Wight of 2 March 2004, Official Report, columns 852–53W, on Emergency Protection Orders, what the population was of each area listed as a county at the most recent date for which information is available;
	(2)  pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for the Isle of Wight of 2 March 2004, Official Report, columns 852–53W, on Emergency Protection Orders, what the population was of the areas served by each family proceedings court at the most recent date for which information is available.

Ruth Kelly: holding answer 8 March 2004
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Andrew Turner, dated 9 March 2004
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your questions concerning the most recent population of each county, and of the areas served by each family proceedings court. (159695,159696)
	Attached is a table showing the mid-2002 population estimate of each area listed as a "county" in the Official Report, 2 March 2004, column 852W, in answer to your earlier question on emergency protection orders. These are primarily the former counties rather the current shire county administrative areas, for example in the table "Hampshire" includes Portsmouth, Southampton and the Isle of Wight as well as the current county area.
	The Office for National Statistics does not produce mid-year population estimates for areas served by family proceedings courts.
	
		Total populations of 'county' areas(18): all ages, mid-2002 -- Thousands
		
			 Area Persons 
		
		
			  
			  
			 England 49,561.8 
			 Avon (Former County excl N Somerset and S Gloucestershire) 551.2 
			 Bedfordshire (Former County) 570.8 
			 Berkshire (Former County) 803.6 
			 Buckinghamshire (Former County) 688.5 
			 Cambridgeshire (Former County) 716.3 
			 Cheshire (Former County) 986.1 
			 Cleveland and Darlington 639.1 
			 Cornwall and Isles of Scilly 508.4 
			 Cumbria 488.5 
			 Derbyshire (Former County) 962.5 
			 Devon (Former County) 1,082.3 
			 Dorset (Former County) 696.3 
			 Durham 492.3 
			 East Riding and North Lincolnshire 471.2 
			 Essex (Former County) 1,622.4 
			 Gloucestershire 567.0 
			 Greater London 7,355.4 
			 Greater Manchester 2,513.5 
			 Hampshire (incl Isle of Wight and Former County) 1,789.7 
			 Hereford and Worcester (Former County) 722.4 
			 Hertfordshire 1,036.1 
			 Humberside (Former County excl E Riding and N Lincolnshire) 399.4 
			 Kent (Former County) 1,589.3 
			 Lancashire (Former County) 1,421.9 
			 Leicestershire (Former County) 933.7 
			 Lincolnshire 657.8 
			 Merseyside 1,361.0 
			 N Somerset and S Gloucestershire 435.8 
			 Norfolk 802.8 
			 North Yorkshire (Former county) 755.3 
			 Northamptonshire 638.2 
			 Northumberland 308.4 
			 Nottinghamshire (Former County) 1,023.2 
			 Oxfordshire 607.5 
			 Shropshire (Former County) 445.8 
			 Somerset 503.4 
			 South Yorkshire 1,267.3 
			 Staffordshire (Former County) 1,047.5 
			 Suffolk 671.9 
			 Surrey 1,059.9 
			 Sussex (incl East and West Sussex) 1,500.0 
			 Tyne and Wear 1,073.5 
			 Warwickshire 512.7 
			 West Midlands 2,575.8 
			 West Yorkshire 2,089.2 
			 Wiltshire (Former County) 616.9 
		
	
	(18) Areas as listed in Official Report, 2 March 2004, column 852W
	Source:
	Mid-2002 Population Estimates, Office for National Statistics

Insurance Premium Tax

Brian Cotter: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to alter the rate of insurance premium tax.

Ruth Kelly: holding answer 5 March 2004
	As with all taxes, the future rates of Insurance Premium Tax are a matter for the Chancellor to consider as part of the Budget process.

Lord Butler of Brockwell

James Gray: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his answer of 27 February, Official Report, column 575–56W, when (a) Sir Nicholas Montagu KCB, Chairman of Inland Revenue, (b) Mr. Timothy Flesher CB, former Commissioner of Inland Revenue, (c) Mr. Gabriel Maklouf, former Director of Inland Revenue Internationl Division and (d) Mr. Graham Dean, former Inland Revenue employee, was informed that Lord Butler of Brockwell had joined the advisory board of IBM UK; and who the Commissioner responsible for that department was in each year from 1996–97 to date.

Dawn Primarolo: Lord Butler's appointments are not a matter for the Inland Revenue. Sir Nicholas Montagu has been Chairman of the Board of the Inland Revenue since July 1997: his predecessor was Sir Anthony Battishill.

LPG

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will reconsider his decision to change the duty on liquefied petroleum gas.

John Healey: I refer to my reply to the hon. Member for Castle Point (Bob Spink) of 1 March 2004, Official Report, column 690W.

Ministerial Speeches

Keith Vaz: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many speeches (a) he and (b) the Chief Secretary to the Treasury made between 9 June 2003 and 1 February 2004; and where a copy of each speech can be obtained.

Ruth Kelly: Treasury Ministers make a number of speeches on a wide range of domestic and international issues. The Chancellor's and Chief Secretary's speeches are available on the departmental website (www.hm-treasury.gov.uk).

Money Laundering

Brian Cotter: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact of new money laundering regulations on small firms of (a) accountants and (b) solicitors.

Ruth Kelly: The Money Laundering Regulations 2003, together with amending orders for the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 and the Terrorism Act 2000, came into force from 1 March 2004.
	A Regulatory Impact Assessment was placed in the House Library when the Regulations were laid, and this is also available on the Treasury website www.hm- treasury.gov.uk/media//4ADBC/fullriamlr03 80.pdf. The RIA contains details of cost estimates and changes to the draft Regulations in light of responses to the consultation undertaken, particularly with representatives of the businesses affected.

Money Laundering

Mark Oaten: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps his Department is taking to (a) raise awareness of money laundering and (b) ensure businesses are compliant with the 2003 Money Laundering Regulations.

Ruth Kelly: The Government continues to raise awareness of money laundering and the controls needed to combat it. Examples of the work that the Government has undertaken to raise awareness include:
	The National Criminal Intelligence Service (NCIS) publishes an annual UK Threat Assessment, which exposes the principal threats posed in the area of financial crime.
	The Government have set up the Money Laundering Reporting Taskforce, which is tasked with working to improve communications with key stakeholders, including industry and consumers.
	Last year the Treasury, Financial Services Authority and NCIS, in partnership with industry, published an information leaflet intended to gain greater public support in combating money laundering and terrorist financing. This leaflet continues to be distributed widely through financial service providers.
	The Treasury expects to launch its money laundering strategy paper soon, which will outline the Government's strategy for tackling money laundering.
	The Assets Recovery Agency provides regular updates on the progress in recovering the proceeds of crime.
	The Government engaged in extensive formal and informal consultation with stakeholders over a long period of time prior to the production of the Money Laundering Regulations 2003. This included dialogue with representative bodies, such as the Law Society, The Consultative Committee of Accountancy Bodies, the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors and the British Casinos Association, who have regularly informed their members about the Money Laundering Regulations 2003. The Government are also aware that many of these bodies are producing guidance for their own industry on how to implement the Regulations, which they may choose to submit to the Treasury for approval.
	The Government have been working with the Federation of Small Businesses and the Small Business Service to try to ensure that small businesses are aware of any implications that the Regulations may have for their business.

Money Laundering

Mark Oaten: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact of the 2003 Money Laundering Regulations on small and medium-sized businesses.

Ruth Kelly: A Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) was placed in the House Library when the Money Laundering Regulations 2003 were laid, and this is also available on the Treasury website see www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/media//4ADBC/fullriamlr03 80.pdf. The RIA contains details of cost estimates and changes to the draft Regulations in light of responses to the consultation undertaken, particularly with representatives of the businesses affected. The Government have been working with the Federation of Small Businesses and the Small Business Service to try to ensure that small businesses are aware of any implications that the Regulations may have for their business.

Money Laundering

Mark Oaten: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the businesses subject to the requirements of the 2003 Money Laundering Regulations.

Ruth Kelly: Regulation 2(2) of the Money Laundering Regulations 2003 sets out all those professions and activities that are covered by the Regulations.

National Census

Lorna Fitzsimons: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people identified themselves as Kashmiri in the latest National Census; how many did so in Rochdale constituency; and how many public sector bodies have requested the identification in the Census of the numbers identifying themselves as Kashmiri.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mrs. Lorna Fitzsimons, dated 9 March 2004
	As National Statistician and Registrar General for England and Wales I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many people identified themselves as Kashmiri in the latest National Census; how many did so in Rochdale constituency; and how many public sector bodies have requested the identification in the Census of the numbers identifying themselves as Kashmiri. (157857)
	People could identify themselves as Kashmiri in the 2001 Census by writing in that response against the ethnic group question on the Census form. The number of people who thus identified themselves as Kashmiri in England and Wales is 23,197 and in the Rochdale Parliamentary Constituency, 3,489.
	Two public bodies have requested information on Kashmiris specifically.

National Census

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will break down the latest census results by (a) ethnicity, (b) age, (c) gender and (d) religion for the (i) Chorley constituency and (ii) total population; and if he will make a statement on population growth in Chorley.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Lindsay Hoyle, dated 9 March 2004
	As National Statistician and Registrar General for England and Wales I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking for a breakdown of the latest census results by (a) ethnic origin, (b) age, (c) gender and (d) religion for the (i) Chorley constituency and (ii) total population, and a statement on population growth in Chorley. (157974)
	The information requested for both the Chorley Parliamentary constituency and England and Wales as a whole is available on the CD accompanying the published Census 2001 Report for Parliamentary Constituencies. The information for England and Wales as a whole is also available in the published Census 2001 Key Statistics for local authorities in England and Wales printed volume. Both these published volumes are available in the House of Commons Library and also on the National Statistics website at: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/census2001/cennews.aspat
	The National Statistics website also includes profiles of each local authority area from the 2001 Census. Further detail on the population profile of Chorley local authority, including age and gender breakdowns, is available at: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/census2001/pyramids/pages/30ue.asp. A more general profile of the Chorley local authority area, including information on ethnicity and religion, is available at: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/census2001/profiles/30ue.asp.
	With regard to the population growth of Chorley, please see the answer given in my previous answer (155307) giving mid-year population estimates for Chorley local authority, 1998–2002, the most recent years for which estimates are available. These showed that the population of Chorley has been growing in recent years.

National Statistics

Paul Burstow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the death rates for end stage renal failure in (a) England and (b) other European countries; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Paul Burstow, dated 9 March 2004
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question on death rates for end-stage renal failure in England and other European countries. (159783)
	Death rates for end-stage renal failure are not available as it is caused by a number of different diseases, including diabetes and infections, that damage the kidneys. Deaths will therefore be certified as due to one of these causes, so it is not possible to obtain reliable data on mortality from end-stage renal failure from the routine death registration system.
	Age-standardised death rates for chronic renal failure, mentioned anywhere on the death certificate, are however available. These were 19.4 and 8.9 per 100,000 people for males and females respectively in England and Wales in 2002 (the latest year for which figures are available). Comparable figures are not readily available for other European countries.
	Information on survival rates for patients receiving renal replacement therapy is available from the Euronean Dialysis and Transplant Association (EDTA) Registry. Their website address is: http://www.era-edta.org/erafset.htm

Pre-tax Family Incomes

George Osborne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many families have incomes before tax of between £5,060 and £5,200;
	(2)  how many families have joint incomes before tax of between £50,000 and £51,380;
	(3)  how many families have joint incomes before tax of between £13,480 and £13,600.

Dawn Primarolo: Sample sizes from household income surveys for families with children with incomes before tax in each band are too small to yield reliable results. The information cannot be estimated from administrative data until all families with children receiving the tax credits have reported their 2003–04 income

Rubies and Jadeite

Vera Baird: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the value of (a) rubies and (b) jadeite imported into the UK was in each of the past five years.

John Healey: HM Customs and Excise are responsible for the collection of data on imports. It is not possible to identify imports of rubies or jadeite, separately from other precious stones with which they are classified.

Scottish Transport Group Dissolution Order

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what payments have been received from the Scottish Executive with respect to the Scottish Transport Group Dissolution Order; and on what dates;
	(2)  how much has been received to date by the Treasury with respect to the Scottish Transport Group pension fund.

Paul Boateng: My right hon. Friend the then Secretary of State for Scotland announced on 13 February 2002, Official Report, column 364W a reduction in the 2001–02 Scottish Departmental Expenditure Limit of £50 million following the Scottish Transport Group Dissolution Order.

Secondments

Jim Cousins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what secondments (a) PricewaterhouseCoopers, (b) Deloitte & Touche, (c) Ernst & Young and (d) KPMG have made to his Department since 2001; for what (i) periods and (ii) tasks the secondments were made; whether secondments of staff from his Department have been made to those firms; and for what (A) periods and (B) tasks.

Ruth Kelly: Since 2001, the Treasury has hosted the following secondments:
	
		
			 Organisation Period Directorate 
		
		
			 PricewaterhouseCoopers 24 June 2003 to 24 October 2003 Financial Regulation and Industry Directorate 
			 Deloitte & Touche 8 September 2003 to date Public Services Directorate 
			 Ernst & Young 1 April 2003 to date Budget and Public Finances Directorate 
		
	
	Since 2001, the Treasury has seconded an official to KPMG from 8 September 2003 to date, to work in their Corporate Finance Department.

Sudden Deaths

John Baron: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action is being taken on (a) recording and (b) classifying sudden and unexpected death, where no cause of death can be detected at autopsy but where an underlying cardiac condition resulting in fatal cardiac arrhythmia is suspected.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. John Baron, dated 9 March 2004
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning the action being taken on (a) recording and (b) classifying sudden and unexpected death, where no cause of death can be detected at autopsy but where an underlying cardiac condition resulting in fatal cardiac arrhythmia is suspected. (159827)
	All deaths in England and Wales that are sudden and unexpected must be referred to the coroner for investigation. It is the responsibility of the coroner to undertake any necessary investigations to ascertain the cause of death and to record the findings.
	When the death is registered, the Office for National Statistics codes the cause according to the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems. Currently the tenth revision of this classification is in use. If no precise cause is identified, but the certificate states that the death was sudden, it would be classified to R96, 'sudden death, cause unknown'. If a cardiac defect was identified on the certificate, the death would be classified under cardiovascular diseases, using the most precise and accurate code available for the identified condition.
	Following publication in 2003 of the Third Report of the Shipman Inquiry and the Fundamental Review of Death Certification and the Coroner Service, the Government is committed to taking forward proposals for reform of the coroner and death certification service.

Sudden Deaths

Steve Webb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his latest estimate is of the amount of overpayments of (a) child tax credit and (b) working tax credit made owing to official error; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: holding answer 4 March 2004
	As set out in its Code of Practice 'What happens if we have paid you too much tax credit?', the Inland Revenue will accept that an overpayment should not be recovered if it arose because of their mistake and the person could reasonably have thought their award was right. The total of overpayments during 2003–04 cannot be established until awards for that year are finalised. However, the Inland Revenue may accept during the year that the test of official error is satisfied and adjust payments accordingly. The overpayment will then be finally written off when the award is finalised.

Unemployment (Wales)

Martyn Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many unemployed people there are in Wales; and what the percentage change was in the last year in each constituency, listed in descending order of percentage reduction.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Martyn Jones, dated 9 March 2004
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about unemployment in Wales and its Parliamentary Constituencies. (157663)
	In the three months ending in December 2003, there were an estimated 65,000 unemployed people aged 16 and over in Wales. Information on the levels of unemployment in each Parliamentary Constituency is not available as the Labour Force Survey sample is too small to give reliable estimates.
	However, information is available on the number of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) in each Constituency in Wales. The total number of JSA claimants in Wales as a whole in January 2004 was 45,944. The attached table shows, for each Parliamentary Constituency in Wales, the percentage change in JSA claimants over the twelve month period ending January 2004.
	
		Percentage change from January 2003 to January 2004 in the number of claimants of Jobseeker's Allowance in Wales, by Parliamentary constituency -- Percentage
		
			 Area Change 
		
		
			 Wales -9.1 
			   
			 Caernarfon -22.9 
			 Cerediglon -19.6 
			 Wrexham -18.0 
			 Cardiff South and Penarth -15.7 
			 Clwyd South -15.6 
			 Meirionnydd Nant Conwy -15.3 
			 Vale of Glamorgan -14.4 
			 Ynys-Mon -13.3 
			 Llanelli -13.1 
			 Newport East -13.0 
			 Newport West -12.5 
			 Blaenau Gwent -12.0 
			 Gower -11.4 
			 Vale of Clwyd -11.1 
			 Clwyd West -10.4 
			 Cardiff Central -10.0 
			 Cardiff West -10.0 
			 Carmarthen East and Dinefwr -9.9 
			 Aberavon -9.8 
			 Islwyn -9.8 
			 Conwy -9.4 
			 Alyn and Deeside -8.2 
			 Preseli Pembrokeshire -7.6 
			 Cardiff North -7.3 
			 Neath -7.3 
			 Caerphilly -7.2 
			 Swansea West -7.1 
			 Pontypridd -6.1 
			 Delyn -5.9 
			 Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire -5.2 
			 Bridgend -4.7 
			 Ogmore -4.6 
			 Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney -4.0 
			 Monmouth -3.0 
			 Torfaen -1.8 
			 Swansea East -1.7 
			 Rhondda -0.6 
			 Brecon and Radnorshire 1.0 
			 Cynon Valley 3.4 
			 Montgomeryshire 16.7 
		
	
	Source:
	Jobcentre Plus administrative system

Valuation Office Agency

James Gray: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the Answer of 27th February 2004, Official Report, column 579W, on the Valuation Office Agency, when the Valuation Office Agency made an enquiry of the Public Appointments Unit to seek suitable candidates for the position of non-executive director; how many of the four short-listed candidates were interviewed by the selection panel; and whether the position filled by Miss Grinstead was a new position.

Dawn Primarolo: The Valuation Office Agency approached the Public Appointments Unit in the latter part of 2001, and a list of potential candidates was supplied in November 2001. Of the four short listed candidates, three declined and one was interviewed. The non-executive post being filled was an existing position.

Westminster Hall

Bob Spink: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to have senior Ministers reply to debates in Westminster Hall.

Ruth Kelly: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer he received from the Leader of the House on 8 March 2004, Official Report, column 1234W.